Want to reach home safe, avoid driving between 6 and 7pm

KOCHI: If one goes by police data on road accidents, it is most unsafe to drive between 6pm and 7pm.
According to data available with Kerala police, in the last five years there were almost 13,869 road accidents between 6pm and 7pm - the highest at any given hour - in which 1,587 persons were killed.
While 370 persons were killed in road accidents between 6pm and 7pm in 2013, it was 359 in 2011, 324 in 2010 and 359 in 2009.The exception being 2012 - when the highest number of deaths in road accidents (333) was reported between 7pm and 8pm compared to 237 between 6pm and 7pm.
"Road accidents and deaths are very high in the evening hours as the density of vehicles is high at the time. In a bid to reach home fast, there is a tendency for people to overspeed and overtake through wrong side," said T Elangovan, scientist, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac).
According to Natpac, the peak hours in the state - when maximum vehicles are on the road - are between 9am and 11am, and between 5pm and 7pm. As per the data, accidents and accident deaths are high in the evening compared to the peak hours in the morning. While 2,856 deaths and 48,806 accidents were registered in the last five years during peak hours in the evening, 2,097 deaths and 22,286 accidents were registered during the morning peak hours.
Elangovan said accidents and accident deaths can be prevented by promoting public transport system, especially during evening hours. "To reduce accidents and deaths, the density of vehicles should be brought down. It's possible only by promoting public transport system. For that parking facilities should be provided near bus stops and railway stations for the commuters so that they can park their vehicles and use public transport," he said.
Meanwhile, the lowest number of accidents and accident deaths was recorded between 2am and 3am in the last five years. According to the data, 726 accidents and 141 accident deaths occurred during that hour from 2009-13.
"The number of accidents is very low between 12midnight and 5am because motorists are more careful while driving during these hours as it is in our psyche that accidents occur at night. However, during peak hours most of them tend to drive fast, resulting in accidents," said Rishi Raj Singh, state transport commissioner.
Many of those killed in road accidents are found to be pedestrians. As a result, the motor vehicles department will conduct a mapping of the whole state to address this issue, he added.
Highest Number of Accident Deaths (2009-13)
Time Deaths
6pm-7pm 1,587
7pm-8pm 1,386
3pm-4pm 1,352
2pm-3pm 1,322
4pm-5pm 1,321
Highest Number of Accidents (2009-13)
Time Accidents
6pm-7pm 13,869
4pm-5pm 13,693
3pm-4pm 13,206
5pm-6pm 12,937
2pm-3pm 12,095
Kochi: If one goes by the police data on road accidents, then it is most unsafe to drive between 6 pm and 7pm. According to data available with Kerala police, in last five years there were almost 13,869 road accidents between 6 pm and 7 pm, the highest at any given hour, in which 1587 died.
While 370 persons killed in road accidents between 6pm and 7pm in 2013, it was 359 in 2011, 324 in 2010 and 359 in 2009. The exception is in 2012, when highest number of deaths in road accident - 333-- were reported between 7pm and 8pm as compared to 237 between 6 pm and 7 pm.
"Road accidents and deaths are very high in the evening hours as density of vehicles is high at the time. In a bid to reach home fast, there is a tendency for people to overspeed and overtake through wrong sides", said T Elangovan, scientist, National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC).
NATPAC said that the peak hour in the state, when maximum vehicles are on the road, is between 9am and 11am and between 5pm and 7pm. As per the data, accidents and accidental deaths are high in the evening peak hours compared to the morning peak hours. In the evening peak hours while 2856 deaths and 48,806 accidents were registered in last five years, as against 2097 deaths and 22,286 accidents registered in the morning peak hours.
Elangovan said that accidents and accident deaths can be checked by promoting public transport system, especially during evening hours. "In order to reduce accidents and deaths density of vehicles should be reduced. It's possible only through promoting public transport system. In order to promote it, parking facilities need to have provided near bus stops and railway stations," he said.
Meanwhile, lowest number of accidents and accident deaths were occurred between 2am and 3am in the last five years. According to the data, 726 accidents and 141 accident deaths were occurred during that one hour from 2009-13.
BOX
Highest Number of Accident Deaths (2009-13)
Time Death
6pm-7pm 1587
7pm-8pm 1386
3pm-4pm 1352
2pm-3pm 1322
4pm-5pm 1321
Highest Number of Accidents (2009-13)
Time Accidents
6pm-7pm 13869
4pm-5pm 13693
3pm-4pm 13206
5pm-6pm 12937
2pm-3pm 12095