Massive car pile-up on Ludhiana-Delhi national highway due to fog, several hurt

Massive car pile-up on Ludhiana-Delhi national highway due to fog, several hurt

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 13 Nov 2023, 15:43 PM

At least one person has lost life and several others were injured in a road accident that took place near Ludhiana in Punjab today morning. According to the police, dense fog led to a massive car pile-up which also involved buses and trucks, on the Ludhiana-Delhi national highway in the early hours of November 13. As of now, there is no exact number of vehicles involved in the accident. However, the police said that more than two dozen vehicles, over 24 in number, piled up against each other in the mishap.

A massive car pile-up took place near Ludhiana in Punjab in the early hours of November 13 where more than 24 vehicles crashed due to dense fog.

Initial reports said that no one was seriously injured in the accident, which took place around 40 kms from Ludhiana district headquarters near a village called Libra. Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Khanna), had said that those who were injured in the road accident have been discharged after they received first-aid at local private hospitals.

Police said that some of the victims involved in the crash drove away their vehicles despite being damaged. Police towed away the other vehicles which were badly damaged in the incident. According to police, at least two state transport buses and one truck was involved in the pile-up. Prima facie, dense fog is seen as the key reason behind the road accident.

Also Read : How to drive safely in foggy weather

Road accidents in India have been on the rise in the past few years. According to the report released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), India recorded a total of 4.61 lakh road mishaps last year. The number of people killed due to these accidents has gone up to 1.68 lakh. Nearly 4.45 lakh people were also injured in these road accidents. The number of accidents in India has gone up by almost 12 per cent compared to 2021 while the number of fatalities has increased by 9.4 per cent. Overspeeding, wrong-side driving and drunken driving are some of the biggest reasons behind road accidents in India.

The Centre is planning to introduce new norms in car safety as road accidents continue to surge in India. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has shared a draft policy which proposes installing in-built collision warning signal in passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles to bring down the number of road accidents in the country.

First Published Date: 13 Nov 2023, 15:43 PM IST


Source link

Indian govt panel wants BNCAP crash ratings tied to improved car connectivity

Indian govt panel wants BNCAP crash ratings tied to improved car connectivity

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 11 Oct 2023, 16:28 PM

An Indian government panel has recommended that the automakers who step up connectivity features in their cars to communicate with other vehicles and external systems should score better ratings on Bharat NCAP crash tests, Reuters has reported. The panel has reportedly submitted a draft report, which aims to boost road safety as well as introduce a technical blueprint for the connected cars in India. The Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways would decide the next steps on it, claimed the report.

The government panel has proposed the integration of V2X technology in connected cars in India that will help these cars communicate with each other as well as with other systems on the roads including traffic lights.

The proposal by the government panel reflects steps being weighed by the US, China and multiple other countries in Europe. The panel has reportedly proposed the integration of V2X technology in cars to reduce the risk of accidents and traffic congestion as well. With the V2X technology, the connected cars will be able to communicate with other vehicles as well as with other connected systems on the roads, including traffic lights, claimed the report.

The report claims that the 58-page draft proposal has stated that most of the traffic issues in India occur because of non-line-of-sight scenarios. “Most sensors do not work well in these scenarios and V2X fills the gap,” the proposal reportedly added, referring to the connected car technology commonly known as vehicle-to-everything (V2X). The panel reportedly wants the V2X technology to be considered for inclusion in India’s Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP) for car safety ratings. This move comes in line with developments abroad. However, the panel didn’t set any deadline for the adoption of its recommendations.

India is known as a country with an alarmingly high number of road accidents, which cause lakhs of deaths and critical injuries to many people every year. If this proposal introduced by the government panel makes it to rule, it could force the automakers to equip the connected cars with technology using the airwaves to send warnings between drivers and communicate with other road systems.

Currently, the Bharat NCAP doesn’t mandate features to be included by car manufacturers, Instead, it assigns star ratings based on the impact of collisions. However, if the proposals by the government panel are to be considered we may see the government mandating the automakers to equip their connected cars with some advanced features.

At present, some cars on Indian roads feature forward collision warning and emergency braking technology. However, mostly these cars use sensors that can be triggered by close proximity. V2X is a more advanced and connected form of this warning technology, as it relies on a dedicated network to issue warnings even kilometres ahead, which enables the driver to be alert well ahead.

First Published Date: 11 Oct 2023, 16:28 PM IST


Source link

Rapido partners UP Police to distribute over 100 free helmets in Noida

Rapido partners UP Police to distribute over 100 free helmets in Noida

by with No Comment Electric vehicles cars

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 07 Aug 2023, 14:01 PM

Bike-taxi aggregator Rapido has tied up with the Uttar Pradesh Police department to promote safe driving among two-wheeler riders. As a part of this initiative the police department distributed more than 100 Rapido-branded helmets to people in Noida. The free helmet distribution was held near the Botanical Garden Metro Station in Noida. The helmets were ISO certified that meet stringent quality standards.

UP Police distributing Rapido branded helmets to young riders in Noida.

The helmets were distributed to young commuters and low-income families who often lack access to proper protective gear. The distribution drive was carried out by Saurabh Srivastava, ACP Traffic, Gautam Buddha Nagar. The beneficiaries were also sensitized about the importance of wearing a helmet in context to safe driving practices.

Also Read : Avoid these mistakes when driving a car: Top five tips

The initiative is a part of Rapido’s commitment to promote safe driving practices amongst riders and “make two-wheeler riding a safe commuting avenue in the country”. By distributing free helmets, the company hopes to encourage the adoption of certified helmets among riders for increased personal safety and reducing chances of injuries and fatalities in case of road accidents.

Two-wheeler riders are the most vulnerable category on Indian roads and wearing a helmet can act as a protective gear, helping prevent fatalities in case of accidents. “The negligence amongst riders with regards to the use of preventive gears such as helmets is a cause of major concern. Wearing certified helmets properly can reduce serious injuries in accidents involving riders,” said Pavan Guntupalli, Co-Founder, Rapido. “We are thankful to have had this opportunity to participate in the UP Police led initiative for guiding riders on the pathway of safe driving practices.”

As per data found in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the highest number of fatalities in road accidents are of two-wheeler riders. In 2021, approximately 70,000 riders lost their lives in accidents, which is around 44% of the total fatalities due to traffic accidents.

First Published Date: 07 Aug 2023, 14:01 PM IST


Source link