Karwar: It has become a challenge to drive in Uttara Kannada district, especially on the two national highways passing through it.

 These two highways together account for close to 100 deaths every year and the rate of fatality has been increasing every passing year.

 About 90 km of the National Highway 63 (AnkolaHubballi highway) from Baleguli cross to Kirwatti and 130 km of the national highway 66 (MangaluruMumbai highway) from Majali to Bhatkal fall in the district.

According to the district police, in the last five and half years (2013 to May 2018), 492 people were killed on NH-66. About 1,760 minor accidents have taken place on the highway and hundreds of people sustained injuries.

 During the same period, nearly 200 people were killed on NH-63 and hundreds of people injured in minor injuries.

 There is no count of property damage on the highways. To reduce the number of accidents on the national highways, the Police Department identified 20 ‘black spots’ as per an apex court direction.

 If more than 10 people are killed in a place in a span of three years or if more than five accidents take place, such points are identified as black spots.

 There are 20 such places in the district on the national highways.

After identifying the black spots, the Police Department also suggested measures to tackle accidents such as improving the roads and medical facilities and cutting of trees at curves. The police also wrote a letter to the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) in this regard in April.

 As there was election, the police did not yet follow up the issue.

 According to senior PWD officer, the numbers of accidents increased on NH-66 in the last five years and so did the death toll. Ongoing road works are the main reason for the accidents.

 In the last five years, NH-66 road widening work has been not completed and there are many half completed stretches causing accidents. During the work, the road construction company failed to place proper sign boards and indicators on roads and it is confusing for vehicle drivers.

Unscientific traffic management during work and negligence by the police and the district administration are also the reasons for increasing accidents on highways, according to experts.

 Uttara Kannada superintendent of police Vinayak Patil said they have identified 500-metre black spots where more accidents took place and they have sent the report to NHAI.

They will follow up the issue, he said. He said most of the accidents are also caused by rash driving, drunken driving and violation of traffic rules like parking on the road and sudden turning of vehicles without indications.

It is the responsibility of drivers to follow traffic rules and they should be careful while driving. All the departments concerned will make efforts to prevent accidents, but finally it is the responsibility of drivers to drive carefully, he said.