Kottayam: The government’s assertion that road accidents have decreased due to the installation of AI cameras has been discredited. Moreover, the state government’s claim to the High Court that accidents had decreased in 2023 compared to 2022 has been revealed as untrue.
In August 2022, official statistics recorded 3,366 road accidents, 307 fatalities, and 4,040 injuries. However, in the same month the following year, the government informed the High Court that accidents had significantly reduced to 1,065, resulting in 58 deaths and 1,197 injuries, citing the installation of AI cameras as a primary factor in this decline.
Contrary to the government’s claims, data from the Police Crime Records Bureau revealed that there were 4,006 accidents, 353 deaths, and 4,560 injuries in August 2023. These figures indicate an increase in accidents, fatalities, and injuries compared to August 2022.
The current opposition leader, V. D. Satheesan, and former opposition leader, Ramesh Chennithala, have jointly filed a public interest petition, alleging corruption in the AI camera deal. In a counter-affidavit presented by the government in response to the petition, an estimate was provided indicating a decrease in the number of road accident cases. Even the Chief Minister had previously asserted that the installation of AI cameras had made roads safer.
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