Hyderabad police target road accidents with safety drive
HYDERABAD: The city police have stepped up coordinated measures to curb the rising number of road accidents in Hyderabad, where vehicle density has reached an estimated 800 vehicles for every 1,000 people.
In 2025, the city recorded 2,679 road accidents, leaving 294 people dead and 2,950 injured.
‘Arrive Alive’ campaign to take traffic rules to every household
Under the ‘Arrive Alive’ road safety initiative launched this year, traffic rules will be taken to every household, said Hyderabad traffic joint commissioner of police D Joel Davis in an interview with Eenadu. He said drunk driving and overspeeding accounted for the majority of accidents.
Two-wheeler riders, pedestrians most vulnerable
Police said most accident victims were two-wheeler riders, many of whom avoided wearing helmets due to misconceptions such as hair loss or because they believed they were travelling short distances. Wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler could reduce fatalities by 50%, Davis said.
Authorities have identified 55 accident-prone locations and are taking corrective measures after scientific studies. Pedestrians accounted for 30% of fatalities in accidents last year, often due to crossing roads without observing oncoming traffic or at places without dividers or zebra crossings.
Encroachments, roadside shrines add to risk
Police have also identified 92 roadside shrines that obstruct traffic. In some areas, efforts are under way to relocate them to ensure smoother traffic flow.
Call for defensive driving
Urging motorists to adopt defensive driving practices, Davis said drivers must remain alert to vehicles ahead and behind, road curves and pedestrian movement, and maintain a 360-degree awareness to prevent accidents.
