Mid-Day Special: How traffic cops reduced deaths in Mumbai’s black spots

The Mumbai Traffic Police have saved lives by scrutinising 30 accidentprone black spots and implementing corrective measures to make them safer According to data provided by the traffic police there has been a drastic drop in the number of accidents in 2024 compared to 2023 ldquoWe identified black spots in the city and applied corrective measures to reduce risks All 30 identified locations have undergone safety interventions to curb accidentsrdquo confirmed Anil Kumbhare CP of Mumbai Traffic PoliceIn 2023 there were 292 accidents at these black spots while in 2024 the number dropped to 173 Fatal accidents also reduced significantlymdash54 lives were lost in 2023 compared to 29 in 2024ldquoA Crash Analysis Unit CAU conducts studies to identify black spots based on various parameters Our teams then inspect the locations to pinpoint problemsrdquo an officer told midday However a test drive conducted by midday across nine spots found that three locations lacked the promised corrective measures292No of accidents recorded in 2023173No of accidents recorded in 202430No of accident spots scrutinised by the copsKey measures implementedThe construction of the GhatkoparMankhurd Link Road GMLR has eased traffic in the area PicRajesh GuptaSionPanvel Highway amp GhatkoparMankhurd Link Road Intersection Mankhurd The construction of the GhatkoparMankhurd Link Road GMLR has eased traffic reducing accidents from 16 in 2023 to just one in 2024Sion CircleSignboards banning heavy vehicles installed PicAshish RajeMultiple safety measures have been implemented including signboards banning heavy vehicles and the removal of barricades to improve southbound traffic flow A midday visit confirmed that heavy vehicle restriction signs were clearly visibleKalanagar JunctionSpeed limit signboard missing at Kalanagar Junction on Saturday PicAshish RajeSpeed limit signboards and cateye reflectors were installed to enhance visibility ldquoWith speed limits clearly marked and improved road visibility at night driver awareness has increasedrdquo said an official However a midday visit found the speed signboard missingMagathane JunctionInstallation of radium lights reflectors and rumblers has made the area less accidentpronePathanwadi Bus StandThe stretch has been declared as a permanent noparking zone PicAshish RajeDeclared a permanent noparking zone with increased fines for wrongside drivingMith Chowki Malad WestBarricades and CCTV have been installed for better patrolling PicAshish RajeEnhanced night patrolling and stricter fines for speeding and drunk driving Barricades before the bridge have been removedOpposite Gyan Sampada High School GovandiSpeed breakers missing twowheeler riding in wrong direction another riding without helmet spotted on the stretch PicRajesh GuptaIncreased patrolling and speed breakers were supposed to be installed but midday found no speed breakers and frequent traffic violations ldquoCorrective measures that are incomplete will be reviewed and the departments concerned will be instructed to follow uprdquo assured Joint CP M Ramkumar when questioned about missing safety improvementsSanjay Gandhi National ParkReflectors have been installed in the area PicAshish RajeReflectors and radium lights have been placed but rumblers were found missingGodrej Ghoda Gate Signal VikhroliAccidentprone area signage was put up in the area PicRajesh GuptaRoad markings and speed limit signboards have been installed to help drivers stop before signalsCommon measures implementedRemoval of illegal speed breakers The police in collaboration with the BMC identified and removed 150 unauthorised speed breakers primarily near schools and hospitalsUse of Twitter for traffic updates A dedicated team alerts citizens about traffic conditions updates on roadblocks and when congestion easesBollards at bridge entryexit points 6070 plastic bollards have been installed at major entryexit points to guide traffic and prevent accidents The police also informed the BMC that whenever the bollards are broken replace them immediatelyPublic awareness campaigns The police conducted traffic safety seminars in 480 schools educating students on the Motor Vehicles Act and encouraging parents to follow traffic rulesStrict patrolling Six teams patrol highrisk areas to enforce safety regulations and curb reckless drivingImproved signalling systems The traffic police in coordination with the BMC have upgraded signals at critical junctions including Amar MahalRepairing and installing signboards Signboards at bridges and highways have been repaired or replaced for better visibilityOnspot accident analysis Traffic officers analyse accident sites immediately and implement corrective measuresStrategic barricading Barricades have been placed near Lilavati Hospital Bandra and Byculla Zoo to manage traffic flow and reduce accidentsVictimSpeakPersistent efforts paid offIn 2015 Yogesh Shah lost his son in an accident near Godrej Kala Ghoda Gate He advocated for safety improvements and even conducted a religious ceremony at the accident site to draw attention to the issue ldquoAfter years of followups a danger signboard has finally been placed and I believe fewer accidents have occurred since thenrdquo he saidLost a leg and job prospectsIn 2023 Ajay Bhalerao lost his left leg when his bike skidded on a pothole near Priyadarshini Circle ldquoI am still recovering and struggle to walk making employment difficult I requested the BMC to install a disabledfriendly stall but the process is delayed due to legal issuesrdquo he saidFear of driving againIn November 2023 Mohammad Fiyaz Shaikh and his friend Wasim Akhtar met with an accident near Amar Mahal Junction Akhtar did not survive ldquoLosing Wasim was devastating His family moved back to their village and Irsquove stopped riding twowheelers ever sincerdquo Shaikh told midday