Road accidents at ‘black spots’ came down in Pune last year

Police said measures were taken like entry of heavy vehicles was banned in city limit on Pune–Ahmednagar Road from 7 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 9 pm. Police also said that nearly 25 notifications were issued last year with respect to one-ways, U-turn banning, prohibition of heavy vehicles on specific roads to regular traffic, due to which the congestion was reduced and flow of traffic was improved on six major roads in the city.

The city police have also claimed that the number of ‘fatal’ accidents, causing death of people has come down last year. As per the figures shared by the police during the annual press conference, 310 fatal accidents were reported last year, as against 334 in 2023. However, the total number of accidents has increased from 1,230 in 2023 to 1,400 in 2024.

Personnel of the Maharashtra State Highway Police during a check for the vehicles violating the speed norms on the Pune Mumbai Expressway. (Express Photo by Pavan Khengre)

Police pointed out the multi-fold rise in enforcement against traffic violations, particularly drunken driving, wrong side driving, triple seat and rash driving. Police have also cancelled 1,345 driving licences of persons who were found involved in traffic offences.

It may be recalled that two IT engineers Aneesh Awadhiya and his friend Ashwini Koshta, both aged 24 and hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were killed after the speeding Porsche driven by a 17-year-old boy allegedly in an inebriated state hit their motorcycle around 2.30 am on May 19, 2024.

The incident had sparked massive outrage as there were alleged attempts to cover up and protect the accused persons in this case. The police investigation revealed that when the minor accused driving the Porsche car after consuming liquor was taken to the government-run Sassoon Hospital after the accident for a medical examination, his blood sample was allegedly replaced with his mother’s. Police have so far arrested ten persons including the parents of the minor driver and Sassoon hospital doctors in this case. Police had intensified the action against drunken driving after the Porsche car accident case.

Traffic enforcement