CHENNAI: Coimbatore is the new road accident capital of Tamil Nadu, having reported more than 1,000 fatalities in 2023, as per state crime records bureau data.
Chennai, which used to top the state’s accident chart, recorded half the number of deaths (500) and is in 15th place. Though both districts reported an equal number of accidents, the death count is lower in Chennai mainly due to better access to government emergency care facilities and stricter implementation of traffic rules.
“In Coimbatore, there are only two major government-run tertiary care centres (Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and ESI) and by default your 108 ambulances take them to these government centres. But Chennai has four govt medical college hospitals in addition to standalone emergency care centres in outskirts,” said Dr Gomathi Karmegam from the emergency care unit of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai.
There is not a single ECC on Coimbatore’s outskirts, where more deaths were reported compared to the core city area, to stabilise patients before being referred to tertiary care centres for treatment. The four ECCs on Chennai’s outskirts helped save lives of 92% of patients admitted for stabilisation, say health authorities.
In regard to enforcement of rules, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) on an average book 180-200 cases every day for bikers or pillions not wearing helmets. This strict vigil helped in increasing the helmet compliance to 80% and only 45 died due to non-wearing of helmets last year.
‘Plan to install more ANPR cameras’
In addition to checks by field officers, we have 77 ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras. We plan to add more cameras at accident-prone zones,” said R Sudhakar, additional commissioner of police, GCTP. Following 145 deaths due to non-wearing of helmets, Coimbatore police installed more than 120 ANPR cameras (of which 50 are unplugged due to Avinashi Road elevated corridor work) and 12 specialised cameras with speed-radar guns, said Rajarajan, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Coimbatore city.
Chennai, which used to top the state’s accident chart, recorded half the number of deaths (500) and is in 15th place. Though both districts reported an equal number of accidents, the death count is lower in Chennai mainly due to better access to government emergency care facilities and stricter implementation of traffic rules.
“In Coimbatore, there are only two major government-run tertiary care centres (Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and ESI) and by default your 108 ambulances take them to these government centres. But Chennai has four govt medical college hospitals in addition to standalone emergency care centres in outskirts,” said Dr Gomathi Karmegam from the emergency care unit of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai.
There is not a single ECC on Coimbatore’s outskirts, where more deaths were reported compared to the core city area, to stabilise patients before being referred to tertiary care centres for treatment. The four ECCs on Chennai’s outskirts helped save lives of 92% of patients admitted for stabilisation, say health authorities.
In regard to enforcement of rules, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) on an average book 180-200 cases every day for bikers or pillions not wearing helmets. This strict vigil helped in increasing the helmet compliance to 80% and only 45 died due to non-wearing of helmets last year.
‘Plan to install more ANPR cameras’
In addition to checks by field officers, we have 77 ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras. We plan to add more cameras at accident-prone zones,” said R Sudhakar, additional commissioner of police, GCTP. Following 145 deaths due to non-wearing of helmets, Coimbatore police installed more than 120 ANPR cameras (of which 50 are unplugged due to Avinashi Road elevated corridor work) and 12 specialised cameras with speed-radar guns, said Rajarajan, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), Coimbatore city.