[TusharK]

According to a report published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians and 2-wheeler riders has increased consistently over the past few years.



As per government data, 56,136 people died in 2-wheeler accidents in 2019. That’s 37.1% of the total road fatalities during the year. In 2021, this figure rose to 69,635 deaths, which is 45.1% of total road accident deaths.

Worryingly, out of the 69,635 riders killed in 2021, 47,000 were not wearing helmets. Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of helmet-related deaths (6,445), followed by Tamil Nadu (5,888) and Maharashtra (4,966).

The report also details the number of pillion riders killed in 2-wheeler accidents. Last year, while 32,877 riders lost their lives, 13,716 pillion fatalities were reported. The number of pedestrian deaths also went up by 17.1% from 25,858 in 2019 to 29,124 deaths in 2021.

While it’s not surprising that overspeeding caused the most fatalities, the report also lists wrong-side driving, use of mobile phones while driving, driving under the influence and jumping traffic signals as some of the other reasons behind fatal crashes.

Link to Team-BHP News

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by TusharK

According to a report published by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians and 2-wheeler riders has increased consistently over the past few years.

While it’s not surprising that overspeeding caused the most fatalities, the report also lists wrong-side driving, use of mobile phones while driving, driving under the influence and jumping traffic signals as some of the other reasons behind fatal crashes.

How many of these deaths are amongst the bike logistics and public transport services? As usual, these reports give only generalized data of accidental deaths.

[dust-n-bones]

Originally Posted by deehunk

How many of these deaths are amongst the bike logistics and public transport services? As usual, these reports give only generalized data of accidental deaths.

If the implicit argument here is that the logistics riders are the ones violating traffic rules the most (jumping signals, riding the wrong way), the fact is most people on our roads violate rules if they think they will save 5 minutes as a result.
I see parents everyday with children (who you would think would ride most defensively) riding the wrong way, brazenly turning, stopping, cutting across trucks and buses. Everyone has their reasons.

Combine that with atrocious, gridlocked roads. And the fatalities keep piling up.

[deehunk]

What made you feel this is an implicit argument? Mere reporting of an increase in accidental deaths of bikers will not change anything, let these people come up with clear facts.

[Old_Salt]

Well, one statistic of driving where we definitely DONT want to see growth, but drivers think otherwise. Increasing the rate of fines does not and will not address the issue.
Question is what has the government learnt from this data, what is their preventive action? My guess is good as yours.

[Moto$apien]

Really ironic.. in this God fearing country, we do not fear the God of Death himself..

Nothing explains this lackadaisical attitude toward safety of self and family.

Kindly spread the word and please everyone to buckle up and helmet up always.

Seen on Pune streets earlier this month, just 1 slip away from disaster.

[theabstractmind]

Originally Posted by deehunk

What made you feel this is an implicit argument? Mere reporting of an increase in accidental deaths of bikers will not change anything, let these people come up with clear facts.

The problem with we Indians is we don't self govern. There's nothing wrong with publishing the data. And I think the demand for facts is only a way to ignore the report. Any sane citizen would give the report a look and try to take some learning out of it. It's just that in our country both the educated and illiterate behave alike.

I drive frequently on both city and highway roads. And I can say our bikers and scooterists have the least fear for their own life. They overtake left right and center. They drive dangerously slow at times in the middle of the road or when overtaking. They take turns cutting into the opposite lane well before the turn or blatantly ride on the wrong side.

The less said about some bikers, the better. I have seen them doing crazy speeds and maneuvers. How often don't we hear about bikers crashing from flyovers to the ground below? Or someone crashing into a divider? Do you think it's possible with a sane rider? And, not wearing helmets Or wearing a silly half helmet is too common a scene. So even a low speed fall could result in fatality. Awareness campaigns on helmets have been around for say about 25 years now. Have people learnt?

Of course some of the biker fatalities, rather a decent number would be from hits by buses, trucks, or cars. But it is silly to rule out reports and ask for facts. Some things only need common sense - the most uncommon thing - to understand and learn.

[IshaanIan]

After completing my driver's license test at the age of 18, I was given a license that authorized me to ride even geared two-wheelers even though I was never tested for the same and I actually did not ever ride or know how to ride a bike at that time. My friend bought a bike and had it insured and only after totalling it and claiming insurance, did he get to know through the insurance service provider that they would not process his claim because geared two wheeler was not mentioned on his driving license. It is no wonder there are so many deaths. I wonder when the government will quit washing its hands clean of the situation and begin having stricter tests.

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by deehunk

How many of these deaths are amongst the bike logistics and public transport services? As usual, these reports give only generalized data of accidental deaths.

Why does it matter? Lives are lives whether it is a family man, college kids or food delivery workers. Our roads are pretty unsafe and we are content to deflect or push the problem away every time it is brought up rather than doing something about it that isn't just a collection exercise for the police.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by Cresterk

Why does it matter? Our roads are pretty unsafe and we are content to deflect or push the problem away every time it is brought up rather than doing something about it that isn't just a collection exercise for the police.

It matters because without knowing the facts, how will it help to prevent accidents? The age group and profession matters as driving in traffic is mental stress on our streets. As a person who has lost 4 close ones due to road accidents, the time and nature of accidents can give more valuable information for data analysis. We as common people cannot fight against heavy vehicles or corrupt civic agencies, like fellow bhpian abstract mind mentioned, we are unable to self-govern to adhere to safe driving, in turn, cause a distraction to sane citizens, there are always these anti-social elements who will protest or create roadblocks if police act tough against offenders. When there is no fear of death or punishment, it becomes an exercise of collection for the police.

[Cresterk]

Originally Posted by deehunk

It matters because without knowing the facts, how will it help to prevent accidents? The age group and profession matters as driving in traffic is mental stress on our streets. As a person who has lost 4 close ones due to road accidents, the time and nature of accidents can give more valuable information for data analysis. We as common people cannot fight against heavy vehicles or corrupt civic agencies, like fellow bhpian abstract mind mentioned, we are unable to self-govern to adhere to safe driving, in turn, cause a distraction to sane citizens, there are always these anti-social elements who will protest or create roadblocks if police act tough against offenders. When there is no fear of death or punishment, it becomes an exercise of collection for the police.

I still don't see how this helps? Whether delivery boys or IT worker or govt employee or school teacher or housewife, put them on a bike or scooter and watch their blatant disregard for the laws or even for being patient for 5 seconds. They will stop in the middle of the road, veer through traffic, overtake from the left, change lanes without indicating etc. The lack of lane discipline is the most dangerous thing here and that seems to be common among both 2 and 4 wheelers as well as autorickshaws and govt buses. When you drive in unpredictable ways and veer every which way on a whim, you put everyone on the road at risk. Ironically, the only 2 wheelers I see that has any modicum of lane discipline are the fully suited up sports bikers who are also ironically always the ones stopped by cops.


We need to teach people about leaving enough space and right of way and how it is not an invitation to cram in there.

[yashg]

On my recent road trip to Aurangabad, I passed through several towns and villages. What I noticed is that while two-wheelers are the preferred mode of transport for people there, they use them and ride in the most brazen manner. Hardly anyone was wearing a helmet. People carried all sorts of things on bikes - gas cylinders, sugarcane, livestock feed, vegetables, household stuff, planks and what not. They would merge on the highways without halting or waiting. They would just come from the side road and merge on the highway, not even bothering to check if there was a vehicle coming at speed. Wrong side driving was rampant. Talking on mobile phone while riding with head skewed to hold the phone in place was a common sight.

I think it's the worst in the metros. Riders are completely unhinged. They don't follow lanes, drive on the wrong side, jump signals. Also, with SUVs becoming preferred form factor, blind spots are going to be bigger and will put riders at even greater danger who like to ride too close to big cars.

[Pashin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa4qpLos3xs

Trainings like these might definitely help. Being cyclists, we regularly see some Car or Bus cutting cyclists off the road completely. While a good part of the responsibility does rest with the way two wheeled drivers ride these days, sensitising Truck and Bus drivers will help a lot.

[saats07]

These days I started believing people on bikes believe none of the traffic rules are applicable to them.
In last 3 days my car has been hit twice by bikers.
1. I was hit by a biker who came from wrong side and hit my car and rode off. This was on a major road in Hyderabad.
2. In another incident there was a blockage on road which was being cleared. As I was waiting a bike guy came hit my car and left without even apologizing.

I believe most of these accidents could be avoided if everyone can follow traffic rules and can be a bit less hurried on roads.
Not only bike but even cars drive as if they will loose a lot if they slow down or wait for few sec.

[NPV]

I'm not at all surprised at this statistic since I see these things by 2 wheelers every day on the streets around Bangalore:

Helmets - riding 2 wheelers without helmet, some use construction hats and even cloth based baseball hats and the like! Many who wear helmets do not fasten the strap/clip, pretty useless. Needless to say, there is a very small percentage who wear a proper ISI or other certified helmet correctly

Speed - another malady on the roads, everyone is in an eternal hurry to move, squeezing in to the tightest gaps, overtaking from the left. Ironically, when traffic is dense, these guys will honk, overspeed and squeeze their way out, but when traffic is thin, these same jokers will ride in the middle of the road extremely slowly posing grave danger to themselves and others!

Mobile phones - using the phone when riding a 2 wheeler is very very common.

Wrong side riding - another common problem, this is coupled with overspeeding with scant disrespect for the law and also no care for the safety of other road users who are following the law and riding/driving safely.

Triple/Quadruple riding - this is becoming quite common too.