Vijayawada 2nd in country in deaths due to driving under influence of drugs or alcohol
Of the 94 deaths reported due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Andhra Pradesh in 2020, Vijayawada accounted for 67 deaths.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 31 Oct 2021 8:25 AM GMT
Vijayawada: Vijayawada city of Andhra Pradesh ranks second in the country in terms of deaths that occur due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A total of 7,039 people were killed and 19,675 persons injured in 17,924 road accidents in Andhra Pradesh in 2020, as per the latest data of NCRB on Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2020.
Of the 94 deaths reported due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Andhra Pradesh in 2020, Vijayawada accounted for 67 deaths. The city also reported 102 injuries while Vizag city reported only one death and two injuries in four cases.
Chennai reported the highest number of drunk driving deaths (236) in 2020. Though Kolkata reported 345 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it reported only two deaths and 338 injuries.
The traffic police said road accidents declined by at least 13 per cent in 2020 when compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions. The drive against drunken driving also stopped for some months in 2020 due to the virus.
Meanwhile, Vizag reported 255 deaths and 1,182 injuries in 1,144 road accidents while Vijayawada reported 274 deaths and 977 injuries in 991 road accidents in 2020.
Vizag ADCP (traffic) Ch. Adinarayana said they have noticed that women are generally more cautious and don't take daring risks while the men seem to enjoy driving their motorbikes and cars. Hardly two-four per cent of women motorists was found violating traffic norms such as not wearing head-guard and wrong parking.
"Though the motorists who were caught for drunken driving are men, it doesn't mean that all women aren't driving in an intoxicated state. However, the majority of the drivers (men) have been violating the traffic norms in spite of paying fines," said a senior police officer.
