PONDA: Ponda, which has been on the top for registering highest number of road fatalities in the state for the last two years, has seen a sharp decline in road fatalities in the first month of 2017. Ponda, which has registered an average of three road deaths every month for last two years, has witnessed only one road accident death in January 2017.
According to records available with Ponda police, in the month of January 2016, Ponda witnessed 37 road accidents of which five were fatal and six people had lost their life. During the same month this year, Ponda witnessed 34 road accidents of which one was fatal.
During the period from January to December in 2015, 36 people had lost their life in 35 fatal road accidents, while in 2016, 36 people lost their life in the same number of fatal accidents during the same period. For last two years, Ponda has witnessed an average of three road accident deaths and 30 road accidents each month.
A Ponda police official said that 2017 has begun on a positive note for people of Ponda as far as road fatalities are concerned.
With the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads, it was pointed out that it was high time the people were made aware of safe driving practices. Compared to previous years, Ponda has registered only one road fatality in Janaury, which is a sharp decline, said officials from Ponda police station, hoping the positive trend would continue in the months to come.
According to Ponda traffic cell, compared to other talukas of the state, most of the fatal road accidents have been registered in Ponda taluka. Ponda has the longest stretch of national highway passing through it and that is the main reason behind the highest number of road accidents reported here, said Ponda traffic cell PI Ram Asare.
Last year from January to December, altogether, 425 road accidents were registered at Ponda police station of which 35 were fatal, 52 serious and remaining minor. Of the 425 road accidents, 36 people lost their life, 83 sustained grievous injuries and many sustained minor injuries. According to police, altogether, 697 vehicles were involved in 425 road accidents occurred in Ponda last year of which 338 were two-wheelers.