Sri Vijaya Puram: A woman sustained serious injuries after being struck by a car while using the zebra crossing outside Tagore College on Tuesday afternoon. The incident, which occurred between 1 and 2 p.m., has added to growing concerns about road safety in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where fatal accidents are steadily rising.
According to initial details, the accident victim was crossing from one side of the road to the other when she was hit in the middle of the zebra crossing by a black car reportedly travelling at high speed. She was immediately taken to G B Pant Hospital and is currently undergoing treatment.
The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Baby Mathew. Traffic Police have launched an investigation to determine whether the case involves rash or negligent driving. Preliminary accounts suggest the vehicle was moving at a considerable speed at the time of impact, an observation that has once again raised questions about speeding in residential and institutional zones.
The incident comes amid growing unease over the region’s road safety record. As of mid-July 2025, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have already recorded four fatal road accidents. In 2024, a total of 19 fatalities were reported. Despite enforcement efforts, these numbers reflect a persistent trend of traffic violations.
Data from the Traffic Police highlights rash driving, overspeeding, and drunk driving as the leading causes of accidents across the Islands. Enforcement activities, including routine checks, mobile patrols, and public awareness drives, have so far struggled to make a lasting impact on driver behaviour.
Monday’s incident has particularly alarmed residents and college students in the area, many of whom regularly use the same crossing. Zebra crossings near schools and colleges in the Islands are often overlooked by speeding vehicles, posing a daily risk to pedestrians.
Authorities have acknowledged the vulnerability of pedestrians, especially near educational institutions, markets, and government offices. According to officials, plans are being considered to enhance road signage, increase the number of traffic lights, and improve visibility around pedestrian crossings. Stricter enforcement of speed limits in high-footfall areas is also being discussed.
The increase in private and rental vehicle ownership, driven in part by rising tourism and infrastructure development, has added further pressure to traffic systems not originally designed to handle high volumes. Police sources have indicated that new measures may include random speed checks and road safety briefings for tourists hiring vehicles.
Meanwhile, community members and safety advocates are calling for better coordination between enforcement and infrastructure. Many have pointed out that even clearly marked crossings are ineffective without driver discipline and consistent monitoring.
As the investigation into Monday’s incident continues, the accident has revived urgent questions around pedestrian safety, traffic discipline, and the wider culture of road use in the Islands. With the region continuing to expand its road networks under development plans, campaigners say that safety infrastructure and driver education must be scaled up simultaneously.
For now, the victim injured near Tagore College remains in hospital, while her case becomes the latest entry in a growing list of preventable road accidents across the Islands, an issue that, for many, has long passed the point of warning.
