more-in In 2015, the State had the dubious distinction of having the highest number of road accidents at 69,059 and was placed second in the number of persons killed in road accidents throughout the country in 2015. The next year saw an uptrend in the number of persons killed in road accidents. However, the State seems to have managed to buck the trend at least regarding fatalities in such accidents, as statistics indicate a small reduction in the number of persons killed in road accidents this year until the month of July. According to data provided by the State Transport department, the number of persons killed in road accidents this year was 8,450. The total number of persons killed in road accidents in 2016 was 17,218 and in 2015 it was 15,642. High Court order Two-wheeler users in the State have remained the most vulnerable victims of road accidents with the number of persons using two-wheelers killed this year being 3,415, which forms almost 40% of the total number of deaths. In 2016, the two-wheeler victims numbered 5,666 (32%) and in 2015 the number of persons killed riding two-wheelers was 4,887 (31%). Transport officials are concerned that deaths of two-wheeler riders have been increasing despite the Madras High Court making wearing of helmet compulsory from July 1, 2015. Underlying the importance of accident data involving two-wheelers, the police department has started segregating the deaths of bike users in terms of those wearing helmets and those not doing so. This year, the number of two-wheeler riders who were killed not wearing helmets was 1,263, while in 2016, it was 5,255 and in 2015, it stood at 4,091. Stern action Dayanand Kataria, Commissioner, Transport Department, said it was decided at a Road Safety Council committee meeting that stern action will be taken against two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets. As part of this, traffic awareness centres have been opened at police stations and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), wherein the violators, in addition to being fined, will watch road safety videos to create awareness on the need for wearing helmets. Mr. Kataria said RTO officials have been directed to file cases against two-wheeler users not wearing helmets and also those having helmets but not wearing them. He said two-wheeler users, by wearing helmets, were not doing any favour to the police department but only safeguarding themselves and their families.

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