Sharp decline in road accidents across Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland

January 10, 2025 4 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, JANUARY 10 (MExN): There has been a significant reduction in vehicular accidents across Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts over the three-year period of 2022, 2023, and 2024, an official release stated today.

The total number of road accidents recorded across the three districts, which stood at 557 in 2022, dropped to 267 in 2023, marking a 52.06% reduction, it said.

By 2024, it further decreased to 110, representing a 58.80% year-on-year decline. Overall, there was an 80.25% reduction in road accidents between 2022 and 2024, with 447 fewer incidents recorded, it added.

Releasing the comparative data, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Dimapur, highlighted the success of a multipronged approach of targeted road safety measures, which included awareness campaigns, infrastructural enhancements, and stringent enforcement of traffic regulations.

It attributed a significant portion of the reduction to widespread road safety awareness campaigns focused on instilling safe driving habits and adherence to traffic laws among various sections of the community.

Traffic officers and personnel collaborated with over 60 educational institutions in the region, targeting children and young adults to foster the early adoption of road safety practices. By educating students, the campaigns indirectly reached parents, guardians, and the general public, it said.

In addition to schools and colleges, targeted programmes were conducted for auto-rickshaw and truck drivers through their unions, while churches and public seminars provided additional platforms for disseminating critical information about road safety, it added.

To reinforce these efforts, informational materials such as booklets, pamphlets, and leaflets were distributed during road safety weeks and enforcement drives.

Strategic enhancements to road infrastructure also played a crucial role in reducing accidents, the release said. Key measures included:

Installation of Traffic Lights and Signages: Cautionary solar blinker lights were placed at accident-prone areas to alert drivers, particularly during nighttime. Signages were installed at strategic locations to provide warnings and guidance.

Road Markings and Barricades: Rumble strips were added at critical junctions to slow down traffic and alert drivers to potential hazards. Convex mirrors were installed at blind spots to improve visibility, while barricades were set up at key locations to manage traffic flow.

Speed Limit Enforcement: Recognising that overspeeding was a primary cause of accidents, particularly during the festive season, the CP office imposed a maximum speed limit for December 2024. Special enforcement drives targeting overspeeding and drunken driving were conducted throughout the month.

AS per the release, the District Road Safety Committees of Dimapur and Chümoukedima were instrumental in implementing these infrastructural upgrades.

Locations such as Coconut Turning in Burma Camp, Zion Hospital Junction, and Padumpukhuri Gate in Dimapur, as well as Airport Junction, Diphupar Junction, and First Gate in Chümoukedima, saw significant installations of solar blinkers, rumble strips, and convex mirrors, it noted.

Besides, strict enforcement drives were carried out to ensure compliance with traffic regulations, and such initiatives targeted offenders with penalties while simultaneously educating them on the importance of road safety, it maintained.

The sustained efforts of the traffic police have not only reduced the number of accidents but also fostered a culture of road safety awareness among the residents of Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland, it added.

While the sharp decline in accidents is a testament to the success of the measures undertaken, the CP Dimapur stressed the need for continued vigilance and community participation in maintaining and further improving road safety.

The data serves as both a milestone and a reminder that collaborative efforts between authorities and citizens can yield transformative results, it added.

Road Accident Data in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland

PARTICULARS	2022 (JAN – DEC)	2023 (JAN – DEC)	2024 (JAN – DEC)
TOTAL NO OF ACCIDENTS	557	267	110
REDUCTION IN NO OF ACCIDENTS (YoY)	–	290	157
REDUCTION (YoY %)	–	52.06%	58.80%
COMPARATIVE REDUCTION BETWEEN 2022 & 2024	–	–	447 (80.25%)