JAMMU, SEPT 15: At least 88 people were killed and 1,001 injured in 699 road accidents reported across Kathua, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch during the first seven months of this year, prompting Traffic Police Rural Jammu to launch a special two-wheeler enforcement and awareness drive.
According to Traffic Police Rural Jammu, an analysis of accidents recorded between January 1 and July 31 found that two-wheelers were involved in 309 crashes, accounting for 44 per cent of all accidents during the period.
Of these, 39 were fatal accidents, while 384 people were injured in crashes involving two-wheelers.
As many as 144 accidents involving two-wheelers were single-vehicle crashes.
The data showed that on National Highways, 102 accidents, or 41 per cent, involved two-wheelers, while on other roads, two-wheelers figured in 210 accidents, or 47 per cent.
The analysis further revealed that 27 per cent of accident victims were below 26 years of age, while 445 of the 699 accidents, or 64 per cent, involved single vehicles.
In response, Traffic Police Rural Jammu conducted a special awareness-cum-enforcement campaign across the four districts from September 1 to 14, focusing particularly on two-wheeler violations.
During the drive, 8,675 challans were issued. These included 5,767 riders for riding without helmets, 1,152 pillion riders for not wearing helmets and 1,106 cases of triple riding.
Police also booked 188 riders for using mobile phones while driving, 260 for dangerous driving and 146 for driving without valid licences.
Three minors were found illegally riding two-wheelers, resulting in seizure of their vehicles, while 50 riders were booked for illegal vehicle modifications. Overall, 187 vehicles were seized for various traffic violations.
Alongside enforcement, Traffic Police Rural Jammu organised 267 awareness programmes at educational institutions, tuition centres, bus stands, playgrounds, libraries and other public places, with a special focus on educating young people about road safety and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Road-safety counselling sessions were also held in Rajouri and Poonch under a “no-challan, only counselling” initiative.
Dedicated canopies were set up where road users, particularly two-wheeler riders, were counselled on helmet use, traffic discipline, safe driving and the consequences of reckless behaviour.
SSP Traffic Rural Jammu Farooq Qaiser said similar special drives targeting other categories of vehicles, including light motor vehicles, would be launched in the coming days.
He appealed to motorists to strictly follow traffic rules and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, warning that stringent enforcement against violators would continue to safeguard lives on the roads.
