Despite having just 10% of India’s total vehicles, Kerala accounted for the highest number of road rage and rash driving cases in 2015. Among cities with a population of over one million, Thiruvanathapuram (12,440) and Kochi (10,502) witnessed the highest number of related offences, followed by Thrissur (8,068) and Delhi (7,411).
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, 1,538 instances of rash driving and road rage were committed by juvenile drivers across the country. Kerala, with 500 cases involving juvenile offenders, recorded the maximum number of cases in this category as well. Among the Union Territories, Delhi recorded the highest number of road rage and rash driving cases that involved juveniles at the wheel.
The report also indicates that, while road rage and rash driving are proving a nationwide nuisance, the situation is particularly exigent in cities. Around 53 cities with a population of over a million accounted for roughly one-fourth (1.10 lakh) of the 4.51 lakh cases registered across India.
When asked why Kerala had such a disproportionately high number of rash driving and road rage cases, former transport commissioner Rishi Raj Singh blamed the state’s ill-equipped road network.
“Kerala’s population is around 3.5 crore and the number of registered vehicles is nearly one crore. But it has a smaller road network in comparison to many other states. Out of the 2.75 lakh kilometres of roads in Kerala, nearly 2.5 lakh kilometres are local roads less than five metres wide,” he added.
In view of the rising numbers of juveniles involved in road rage and rash driving cases, the government has proposed stringent punishment for not just the offenders, but also their guardians.
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