Malappuram: Rash and negligent riding of bikes continue to cause accidents on the roads of Malappuram district. Two accidents involving two-wheelers, on an average, are reported in a day from different parts of the district. Two people die of these accidents a week, as per the police records.

In the past six months, 58 people, 40 of them below the age of 25, lost their lives in close to 354 two-wheeler accidents in the district. The figures for last year were 93 deaths in 744 incidents. Police said that the accidents were recurring due to negligent riding of bikes despite stringent monitoring and slapping of fine on erring riders.

Three to four people riding on a motorbike is quite common in the district, said a Highway patrol police officer. Recently, a class X student, obviously without a driving licence, was found riding a 500cc motorbike.

According to Town traffic SI Kurian, the practice of modifying the two-wheelers and doing away with rear-view mirrors are only inviting danger for riders in the Malappuram city. Police are conducting periodic vehicle checks and as many as 54,025 people were fined for not wearing helmets in the past six months.

Though the traffic police are conducting various road safety campaigns, it is the responsibility of each person to drive vehicles following rules and regulations, said District Police chief Pratheesh Kumar. Last month, 12 people died in road accidents in the district.