CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR-

REMEDIES AND PREVENTION

Road accidents have become very much rife in the last few years. Statistical data shows
that road accidents claimed more lives than militancy in J&K in 2009. According to J&K
Traffic Police statistical record a total of 1,031 people died while 7,562 were injured in
total 5,496 road accidents in the state during 2009. It is much higher than the loss of lives
due to militancy related incidents which claimed 85 civilians killed and 235 injured this
year in total 485 incidents.

Causes of accidents in J&K

1. Use of cell phones during driving: Use of cell phones during driving has
drastically increased the road accidents in J&K. The reason is that a 20 year old
driver talking on a mobile phone behaves like a person of 85 years of age. The
drivers’ inattentive mind is estimated to be factor in 20% to 50% of all police
reported accidents. It has been found from the study of Highway Loss Data
Institute that when young motorists use mobile phones while driving, their
reaction time increases manifold. The reason is attention blindness where
motorists gaze at the conditions on the road ahead, but do not really see them
because they are distracted or preoccupied. It also throws light that during driving,
the use of cell phones not only endangers ones life but also trouble others.
2. Lack of awareness among the road users: It has been generally seen that most
of the road users are ignorant about the traffic rules. The pedestrians instead the
walking on the footpaths are often seen walking on the roads while the motorists
drive their vehicles rash and carelessly.
3. Overloading: Overloading is another reason for rapid increase in accidents in
J&K. It has been surprising to find that on Jammu – Pathankot national highway
the accidents are more but killings are less, but in Doda – Kishtwar accidents are
less, killings are more. The recent accident in Rajouri District is due to the
overloading. The vehicle having the permissible seating capacity of 15 + 1
(Driver) was overloaded four times the seating capacity and was fully packed.
According to the eye witnesses nearly a dozen passengers were seating on the
roof top of the vehicle and many passengers were hanging on the backside stairs
and also from the door of the vehicle.
4. High driving speed: Higher is the speed of the vehicle, higher is the risk of
collision and of serious injury to the driver or others. Even a small speed
reduction helps reduction both in number and severity of accidents. For example:
A pedestrian hit at speed below 30mph receive mainly survivable injuries but a
speed between 30 – 40mph may cause fatal injuries to them.
5. Excessive sleepiness: Excessive sleepiness among the drivers can be another
cause of road accidents. Both the public and doctors should come forward to
make people aware of sleep disorders.
6. Alcohol and Drugs: Alcohol impairs judgments, reaction time, coordination and
concentration. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol do not know how
much quantity their consuming enhance they loose their control over themselves.
So it is best to advise them not to drink while driving.

When we talk the authorities of the traffic police they maintain that the drivers’
negligence, rough and bad roads, poor geometry of roads, hilly terrains, weather
conditions and drivers’ state of mind besides some other factors like inadequate
maintenance are responsible for the occurrence of road accidents in the mountainous
state of J&K.

Prevention
Accidents are the major cause of death and disability and for children and young
people, accidents are the greatest threat to life.
Accident prevention must be on the top priority.

• Primary prevention - removal of circumstances causing injury, e.g. traffic speed

reduction, fitting stair gates for young children, reducing alcohol consumption.
• Secondary prevention - reduces severity of injury should an accident occur, e.g.
use child safety car seats, bicycle helmets, smoke alarms.
• Tertiary prevention - optimal treatment and rehabilitation following injuries, e.g.
effective first aid, appropriate hospital care.

With the rapid increase in the vehicular traffic day by day, we should be serious
enough to implement some speedy steps to check the menace of road accidents, like

1. Hierarchy of Roads: It is very unavoidable that the construction of roads must be

well planned keeping in view the effect of increasing traffic flow in the years to
come.
2. Installation of traffic lights: Traffic lights are meant for the smooth movement
of traffic on busy roads. They must be installed on every busy chowk of Jammu
city, so that the movement of the vehicles is brought under control and chances of
road accidents are minimized
3. Awareness about the traffic rules: People must be made aware of the traffic
rules so that they keep their vehicles always on the left side and do not park their
vehicles on the roads and pedestrians should be educated to walk only on
footpaths to avoid any collision between the two.
4. Sign boards: Traffic signboards must be erected on both sides of the roads which
should depict the directions to be followed by the drivers and precautions to be
taken while driving, as we can see on the highway roadf sides AFTER WHISKY
DRIVING RISKY, LET HIM DRIVE DONOT GOSSIP, Etc. It Will not only
educate the people but also help a lot to restrict the violation of traffic rules.
5. Our traffic department should be well activated to guide the drivers and even
punish them for their negligence.
Giving Crow’s eye view to the killings and casualities caused by the road accidents, it
is the responsibility on the shoulders of every citizen to develop the spirit of leading a
disciplined life and abide by the rules of life. If they inculcate in them discipline,
morality and avoid immoral and inhuman activities(habits), it will not only lessen the
traffic accidents but also build a healthy society.

VINIT GUPTA

CLASS- BBA III

GOVT. P.G. COLLEGE(BOYS) UDHAMPUR.

Email: vgvinitgupta@gmail.com