The Hindu : Front Page : Motorist-friendly speed breakers on highways

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Wednesday, Oct 25, 2006
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Motorist-friendly speed breakers on highways

V.S. Palaniappan

Coimbatore: In the near future, motorists driving through highways in the State will have a smooth ride. The highways department has designed motorist-friendly speed breakers thus eliminating bumpy rides.

Following frequent complaints about speed breakers proving to be back breakers for the motorists, especially those on smaller vehicles, the highways department embarked on an exercise to design motorist-friendly speed breakers. In many cases, unscientifically designed speed breakers become counter-productive by leading to accidents. Thenew ones will make the drivers slow down without causing inconvenience to passengers.

On instructions from the Minister for Highways and Ports, M.P. Saminathan, the speed breakers have been put up on the highways on a trial basis in Coimbatore and Erode districts.

In the latest design, the height of the speed breakers gradually starts increasing from 25 mm to 40 mm and then ends up at 100 mm and then starts descending in the same order.

The speed breakers will havewhite, black and yellow colour paints to caution the drivers of approaching vehicles. With this new design, the speeding vehicles will gradually ascend and descend the hump without giving a bumpy experience for the passengers. To begin with, 17 such speed breakers have been installed in Coimbatore, 11 in Tirupur, 10 in Avanashi, 10 in Annur, seven in Mettuppalayam, 20 in Pollachi, four in Anaimalai, eight in Palladam, 11 in Udumalpet.

In Erode 59 have been put up in and around Vellakoil, Kodumudi, Kangeyam and Moolanur.

In a phased manner the highways department is planning to use the new speed breakers in all the highways across the state.

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