The country witnessed an increasing number of motor vehicle accidents for three consecutive years. The number of motor vehicle accidents increased by more than 150 between 2021 and October this year. According to reports from the police, loss of control over the vehicle and drink driving are the main causes of vehicle accidents in the country.
The country recorded 745 motor vehicle accidents in 2021, and 780 cases last year. And this year, the number of motor vehicle accidents has risen to over 900 in 10 months.
This year’s records showed that Thimphu had the highest number of accidents at over 180 cases followed by Chhukha and Wangdue Phodrang with close to 140 and nearly 80 cases respectively.
According to police records, most motor vehicle accidents were caused due to drink driving, speeding, and unlicensed driving.
Police said weather conditions, road conditions, and mechanical failures were other factors.
Meanwhile, the most common mechanical failure in the country is brake failure.
This year alone, more than 30 accidents were caused due to brake failures.
An experienced automobile engineer with four decades of experience said it is important to check safety features when buying a vehicle adding that regular maintenance is also key to avoid mechanical failures.
“Seatbelts will protect you from hitting your head on the windshield. When you brake suddenly, you end up hitting your head on the windshield so the seatbelt protects you. And airbags also protect you from injuries. We need to have proper maintenance, we have to use the right kind of engine oil, the right kind of brake oil, and coolants. Our people tend not to know what kind of engine oils to use. Each vehicle is provided with an owner’s manual. In that, everything is specified starting from the intervals for changing the oil and what kind of engine oil, and brake oils to use,” said Ugyen Dorji, an automobile engineer.
Some people BBS talked to acknowledged that many Bhutanese vehicle owners tend to undermine the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and check safety features when purchasing vehicles.
“Most of the mechanical failures occur especially in preowned vehicles. People think the vehicle is good if the kilometre reading of the vehicle is less. But it is important to check if the brakes and engine are in good condition to avoid accidents due to mechanical failure,” said Chencho Thinley, a heavy vehicle mechanic.
“It’s been about forty-five years that I have been driving. Although I am not a technical expert, speaking from my experience, it is very important to do regular maintenance of vehicles. You should not drive as soon as you start the engine but instead, it is vital to check if the brake and clutch of the vehicle are working fine,” said Karma Dorji, a motorist.
“I have been working at the workshop for around five years now. In my observation, the number of people visiting the workshops has decreased over the years. Most of the time motorists only care about driving the vehicle and not about maintenance. People only visit the workshops when their vehicles completely break down,” said Chimi Dorji, an automotive painter.
According to the police report, more than half of the road traffic accidents involved single vehicles, at over 480 cases. There were also 260 accidents resulting from a collision of two vehicles and over 40 incidents involving vehicles hitting pedestrians this year.
The country also reported nearly 50 hit-and-run cases with Thimphu reporting the highest number, followed by Paro.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Phub Gyem
