Over 30% decrease in accidents, deaths – Traffic Chief

…as persons are urged to report breaches of traffic laws

There has been a decrease in road accidents by some 32 per cent, along with a 33 per cent decrease in deaths in the country.
This was revealed by the Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Ramesh Ashram, on Wednesday during an interview with the Department of Public Information and as he urged the public to report persons found breaching traffic laws.
“For 2020, to date last year, we had 102 accidents with 111 deaths. For the same period this year, we are having 69 accidents with 74 deaths. So, in accidents, we have a 32 per cent decrease, and 33% decrease in deaths”, the Traffic Chief revealed.

As he appealed to the general public to obey the traffic rules, the Traffic Chief lauded the installation of the CCTV cameras, since those have been assisting the Traffic Department in easily capturing events of fatal accidents as well as in curbing traffic offences.
“I could tell you that the CCTV (cameras are) helping us a lot, because we solve a lot of traffic offences with that on a daily basis. As long as it pops up on the phone or the CCTV centre and we get it, we get the driver, and 90 out of 100 they do not dispute it, because when you show them, they realise it’s them,” he stated.
He urged road users to not be reluctant in reporting persons who breach traffic laws, since in most instances, especially in public transportation, persons sit silently as drivers break the traffic laws.
He, further, highlighted that those persons would make complaints against errant drivers via virtual programmes and social media, but would not give an actual statement to the Police. In most instances, he said, the persons making the report would refuse to testify in court.
“Remember, we cannot prosecute a person if the person making the complaint does not give a statement,” he said.
Ashram further stated that if persons are uncomfortable going to the Police station, they can send their complaints or send photos and videos to the Traffic Department’s WhatsApp number, 620-6713.