business100news: A study has found that the road accident rate in Kochi city is linked to weather conditions with rainfall and low ambient temperatures. A study conducted jointly by the Departments of Public Health, Community Medicine and Biostatistics at Amrita Hospital, Kochi, and the Department of Atmospheric Science at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), comparing road accident data in Kochi city with the weather conditions during that period from 2018 to 2023, found that the risk of road accidents in Kochi city increases during adverse weather conditions. The study was published in the Indian Council of Medical Research’s IJMR journal.
The figures also indicate that light drizzle is more dangerous than heavy rain. 57 percent of accidents in the city occur when rainfall is less than 2.1 millimeters.
Low temperatures and icy conditions can also lead to accidents, obscuring visibility. The study presents interesting findings about the relationship between weather and accidents.
Compared to main roads in Kochi city, 62.6% of road accidents were reported on side roads. Overspeeding was also found to be a major factor in the causes of accidents. The study shows that two-wheelers (57.8%) were involved in more accidents.
The study also states that the common perception that accidents are less likely to occur in areas with speed limits is incorrect.
52 percent of the accidents occurred in areas with a speed limit of 40-60 kmph. The study found that overconfidence, carelessness, and violation of traffic rules by drivers while driving at low speeds often lead to major accidents. The study concluded that more accidents occur between 12 noon and 6 pm.
Dr. Aswathy S, head of the community medicine department at Amrita Hospital, said that although drivers tend to avoid driving during heavy rain, accidents may increase due to the tendency to drive without taking this precaution during drizzle.
Dr. Aswathy added that accidents are increasing due to the lack of strict adherence to traffic rules and the high density of vehicles on the side roads of Kochi, which have more pedestrians, when pedestrians travel on the main roads of the city.
Dr. Aswathy, head of the community medicine department at Amrita Hospital, said that although drivers tend to avoid driving during heavy rain, there is a tendency to drive without taking this precaution during drizzle.
Dr. Aswathy added that the high vehicle density on the side roads of Kochi city, where there are more pedestrians, and the lack of strict adherence to traffic rules on the side roads compared to the main roads may be the reason for the increase in accidents.
Aparna Sabari, Aswathi. S, Abhilash Sukumara Pillai, T. V. Satyanandan, J. B. Jose, and K. R. Thankappan participated in the study.
