Police measures have led to a fall in accidents on East Coast Road, write
T. S. Shankar and
P. Oppili.
— Photo: N. Sridharan
Anyone cares? Though there is a signboard stipulating a speed limit, motorists seem to pay scant regard. A picture taken near Kanathur on East Coast Road.
Now there is some reason for the residents of the East Coast Road (ECR) to feel elated. The “visible policing” concept of the traffic wing, and the concerted campaign against drunken driving menace have led to the fall in fatal road accidents by about 45 per cent.
The decline in accidents was the direct result of a set of safety measures planned and scientifically enforced by the authorities, says Sunil Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic).
This year, so far, the ECR has witnessed 120 accidents in which 22 persons were killed and 98 injured. During the corresponding period last year a total of 218 accidents were reported on the stretch, of which 38 were fatal and the remaining non-fatal, he said.
To begin with, the authorities conducted a study and identified the accident-prone areas along the scenic stretch. Next step was to control overspeeding by placing barricades in these zonesThe residents feel that the leisure buffs milling the entertainment corridor also have a responsibility to ensure safety of the travelling public, irrespective of the vehicle. A section of the locals alleged that often they are singled out by the police and levied fine up to Rs. 250 for over-speeding. Some also accuse police personnel stationed at some points on the road of harassing the motorists.
A resident of Panayur R. Nand Kumar, who was recently fined for overspeeding, said the police must view the ECR with a different perception since it was a fairly good road and a highway. A resident of Panayur felt that the traffic police should advise motorists against overspeeding first instead of straightaway imposing fines.
Frequent road users are happy that new speed breakers have come before an amusement park at Injambakkam and the sharp road curve here is being straightened. Mr Sunil Kumar added that as the system introduced on the ECR yielded positive results, it was planned to introduce similar system on accident-prone roads in the city.
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