Over-speeding is one of the leading causes for road accidents on NICE Road. During 2017 there were 21 fatal and 51 non-fatal accidents within the Bengaluru city police jurisdiction of NICE Road. Excessive speed also increases the severity of the injuries in the event of a crash.
In my view, the following measures needs to be initiated to reduce accidents on NICE Road. Deployment of traffic officers at regular intervals, installation of speed detectors and cameras are required for better enforcement. The visibility of road markings also need to be improved.
The department should also erect boards to educate drivers. There has to be prescribe speed limit, which should be less than 80 km per hour. Erecting of scientific humps/rumble strips at regular intervals of 5 km will help drivers keep speed in check.
Segregation of vehicles depending on the speed i.e., lane discipline, needs to be enforced. Zig-Zag barricading should be done during night hours and the road users should be informed about their presence at-least one kilometre ahead. Black spots, if any, need to be rectified and regular maintenance work of the road will reduce chances of accidents.
The patrolling on NICE Road needs to be done rigorously by police and RTO. Speed governors should be installed in all public transport and goods vehicles at the manufacturing stage itself.
Increased public awareness and improving compliance towards speed restrictions needs to be given importance through campaigns and public education programmes.
In addition, drivers need to be trained in defensive driving system. He or she has to anticipate potential mistakes likely to be committed by other road users.
Intelligent Speed Adaptation System (ISAS), which is popular in many western countries, can be used to maintain safe speed level while driving on NICE Road.
(The writer is an IPS officer and ADGP Crime and Technical services)
Traffic police on alert, but city still sees 3-4 accidents a day
The city traffic police have upped their ante and have been creating awareness on road safety and importance of following traffic rules, but the city still witnesses three to four accidents every day, reveals statistics.
In the first half of this year, till June 30, the city has witnessed 2,336 cases. Data available with the Bengaluru traffic police revealed that the western zone has registered 1,407 cases, while eastern zone 929 cases.
But the city has seen a dip in the number of accidents as compared to last year, a senior police officer said. Areas like K.R. Puram, Peenya, Kamakshi Palya and Yelahanka have seen the highest number of road accidents. Last year, Electronics City, Yelahanka and Madiwala had the highest number of fatalities, he said.
A senior official said that Ballari Road, which is a vast stretch with three traffic police station limits – Yelahanka, Devanahalli and Hebbal – is the most prone to accidents, closely followed by Old Madras Road which is under K.R. Puram traffic police limits. “Mainly cab drivers and youth heading to Nandi Hills use this road. Though the road has a median and adequate speed-breakers, motorists do not follow traffic rules, leading to accidents. Bagalur Cross has seen the maximum number of accidents,” the official said.
According to statistics, the Old Madras Road topped the list with 23 fatal and 106 non-fatal accidents.
Another police officer said that the department has been cracking the whip against violators and booking them. “Also, we are removing unscientific speed humps and erecting signage boards on dark spots to prevent accidents,” he said.
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