There has been a marked reduction in the number of road related vehicular accidents in Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland during the last three years, as per a yearly comparative road accident data report of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 released by Dimapur police on Thursday.
Dimapur police have attributed the “drastic reduction” in road accidents to road safety awareness campaigns and traffic lights and appurtenances. (See Table)
Road safety awareness campaigns: Dimapur police informed that schools and colleges were the primary focus of the awareness campaigns so as to educate and inculcate in children at a very young age of safe driving habits and traffic laws.
More than 60 educational institutions under Dimapur, Chumoukedima and Niuland were covered by the traffic officers and personnel under the programme. The grassroots approach was attempted to educate not only the student community but also indirectly reach out to the parents, guardians and general public to spread the message of safe driving habits and to follow traffic laws, police said.
Further, police informed that awareness campaigns were also conducted for the auto rickshaws and truck drivers through their Unions. Besides, police said churches and seminar programme of various public organisations were attended, and lectures on the importance of Road safety and traffic rules and regulations were delivered.
Policer also distributed booklets/pamphlets/leaflets on Road Safety, Traffic laws and rules among the road users during road safety week and enforcement drives.
Traffic lights and appurtenances: Police installed cautionary solar blinker lights at black spots and accident-prone areas to alert drivers, especially at night.
Police also erected delineator lights at important junctions to discourage double/triple piling of vehicles at traffic stops.
Further, signages were also installed at various strategic locations to caution and alert the drivers. Police said barricades were also installed and placed at important locations.
As proposed by the commissioner of police Dimapur during the district road safety committee meeting, the police informed that the committee approved and installed various road safety appurtenances and installation, adding that works of the same were in progress since December 2024.
Rumble strips were also placed at strategic locations to alert the drivers of the potential hazards ahead and help calm traffic. Police have also installed convex mirrors at identified junctions to help drivers navigate blind spots successfully. Cautionary solar powered amber lights (blinkers) have also been installed at major intersections to alert drivers of oncoming traffic ahead, police added.
In view of the majority of road traffic accidents occurring due to over speeding, especially during the festive season i.e the month of December, the Dimapur police had fixed maximum speed limit restricting the speed of motor vehicles for a period of one month. Along with the restrictions in place, police also carried out special enforcement drives on over speeding and drunken driving throughout the night with the objective to prevent and minimise road accident, which it said had played proved vital in the reduction of accident cases during the period.
Saturday, July 5, 2025