GUWAHATI, June 16 � The traffic branch detected over 73,000 cases of traffic rule violations in the city during the first four months of 2013 and over Rs 1.40 crore was realized as fine from violators.
Superintendent of Police (Traffic) of Guwahati City, Bibekananda Das told The Assam Tribune that between January to April this year 73,991 cases have been detected and Rs 1,40,72,800 worth of fine have been realised from traffic rule violators. Besides, a total of 11,550 non-FIR cases were sent to court.
�We have taken the issue of traffic rule enforcement very seriously. Mobility should not come at the cost of lives of drivers, passengers and pedestrians,� Das said.
In 2012, a total of 1,71,314 cases had been detected and fines worth Rs 3,18,14,900 was realised, with 40,718 non-FIR cases sent to court.
In 2011, the detected number of cases was 1,27,660 with realization of Rs 2,59,86,200 as fine. That year, 22,136 non-FIR cases were sent to court.
�Globally, on average, over 3,400 people die due to traffic accidents on a single day. If the incidents continue at this rate, by 2020 the number of fatalities due to accidents will reach 1.95 million annually,� Das said, speaking about the traffic problems.
He said the traffic branch has taken a number of steps to sensitize both drivers and pedestrians about following traffic rules, including mass awareness programmes.
�What we need for good and safe traffic management are four Es. The first one is engineering like good roads, signage, safety features in vehicles and so on. Besides, there has to be enforcement, education and emergency care and response,� Das said.
As per latest data, in Assam there were 6,569 road accidents in 2011 in which 2,342 persons were killed and 6,505 others were injured.
It is noteworthy that the UN has announced 2011-2020 period as the �Decade of Action Plan for Road Safety�. �As per the UN, over 90 per cent of the fatalities on the roads occur in low and middle income countries, which have only 48 per cent of the world� vehicles,� Das said.
