Thimphu sees highest number of vehicle accidents

Thimphu recorded the highest number of motor vehicle accidents in the country in between January 2016 and June this year. Figures with the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) show, of about 1,100 vehicle accidents reported during the time frame, 70 per cent occurred in the capital.  

Bad road conditions, weather and human error, which includes speeding, drink driving, carelessness and un-licensed driving, were the major causes of vehicle accidents.

“Looking after road safety is not just the responsibility of RSTA or the traffic police, the responsibility fall on each individual. If they drive carefully, then naturally, the road casualties will reduce,” said Karma Pemba, Chief Transport Officer of RSTA.

Globally around 1.2 million people die every year and 50 million are injured in road traffic crashes. In Bhutan, there were around 105 deaths and 355 injuries in 2016. This year, until June, 50 deaths and 162 injuries were reported due to vehicle accidents.

In light of such happenings, the RSTA has adopted an international road safety action plan. It includes five pillars of improving road safety management, ensuring safer roads and vehicles among others.

“We ensure through regular fitness inspections that older vehicles do not ply on the road because these will again lead to more accidents and crashes. The first priority we give is to save lives,” added Karma Pemba. “Once the accident happens, we hastily coordinate with the Health Ministry and save lives and then focus on severe injuries.”

The authority has also provided refresher course on road safety and traffic discipline to over 5,000 people across the country.

Today, there are close to 90,000 vehicles in the country.

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