Road accidents’ severity in Andhra Pradesh continue to surpass national average

VISAKHAPATNAM: The severity of road accidents, measured by the number of fatalities per 100 accidents, remained high in Andhra Pradesh in 2023 compared to the national average. According to the data released by the ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH), Andhra Pradesh's accident severity increased from 39 in 2022 to 40.8 in 2023, significantly surpassing the national average of 36.

In 2023, Andhra Pradesh ranked 18th in accident severity rate in 2023, worsening its position from 22 in 2022.Andhra Pradesh recorded 19,949 road accidents in 2023, in which 8,137 people died. That translates to 40.8 fatalities per 100 accidents and the national average is 36. The severity of road accidents in the state was 39 in 2022 while the national average was 36.5 and the severity in the state was 38 in 2021 while the national average is 37.3.The MORTH report emphasised the need for enhanced trauma care and traffic calming measures in cities and towns and few other parts of the state to reduce crash impact parameters to mitigate the fatalities in road crashes.On average at least 8,000 persons die and over 20,000 people suffer injuries in road crashes in Andhra Pradesh in a year. The state has been standing below 10th rank in road accidents and deaths in the country for the past few years.

Fatal and non-fatal road crashes are on the rise in parts of Andhra Pradesh, yet many districts lack proper trauma care centres (TCCs) to provide immediate medical assistance to accident victims. The increasing number of road crashes underscores the importance of establishing trauma care facilities and enhancing health infrastructure along highways.Experts opined that more people lost their lives in road accidents than other mishaps.

There is a need to increase the number of TCCs in each district of the state and ensure good maintenance of the TCCs with a better understanding between the union and state governments by allocating sufficient funds, they added.Andhra Pradesh currently operates twelve Trauma Care Centres (TCCs). In situations where a government-run trauma care centre is unavailable, the nearest private hospital to the crash site may be utilised.

However, small and medium private hospitals often lack the necessary equipment and trained personnel to manage critical cases effectively.KEY POINTSAndhra Pradesh recorded 19,949 road accidents in 2023, in which 8,137 people died373 persons died in 1,522 road crashes in Vijayawada city in 2023Vizag city road claimed 322 lives in 1,293 road crashes in 2023.Vijayawada city occupied 21 rank in accidents and 15 rank in death in million plus cities in the country 2023.Vizag city occupied 25 rank in accidents and 22 rank in deaths in million plus cities in the country 2023.On average at least 20 motorists died in road crashes in a day in APThe primary reason for the accidents is over-speedingAndhra Pradesh has over 45,000 kms of road network (rural, district and state-highways)At least 30 to 45 per cent of to motorists don’t follow the traffic norms