Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

When driving turns a nightmare

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There has been an increase in night-time accidents during this monsoon. Low visibility and bad road conditions are the main reasons, say the police.

Several key road segments are ill lit. The rainy conditions often force motorists, particularly those using suburban roads, to engage yellow tinted fog lamps and halogen bulb-fitted headlights for extra visibility. Most drivers do not dim the headlight when another vehicle approaches in the opposite direction. Powerful lights often cause disorientation in drivers of vehicles, resulting in accidents.

A traffic police official said Section 360 (3) of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules bans the use of high beam in well-lit urban areas. The law also prescribes that motorists should not use headlight beams that illuminate a distance of more than seven metres in urban areas. However, such rules are observed more in the breach.

The police said many vehicles, mostly trucks and buses conducting stage carriage services, do not have rear reflectors. In many such vehicles, the brake lights rarely work. Often truck drivers do long hauls at night with just one headlight working. Wind-screen wipers on some vehicles do not work.

Many key junctions in the city are ill lit. The speed breakers on some stretches are not highlighted with white paint, resulting in accidents during night.

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