The shocking plight of pedestrians in Chennai is brought to light now!!
Posted on: 28/Feb/2023 9:25:47 AM
If you are a Chennai resident, then this piece of news wouldn`t surprise you!!
The walkways have become smaller and reckless driving has increased in Chennai and they have created panic among the pedestrians now. It is shocking to note that in the last one year 176 persons have been killed after being hit by speeding vehicles in the city. Two wheelers have been responsible for almonst 44% of the accidents in Chennai.
The metro rail works plus bridges and storm water drain or SWD works have reduced the carriageway width and they have pushed cars etc to the shoulders. As a result, the bikers have been forced to drive their vehicles on the pedestrian platforms. Whatever little space that was available for the pedestrians have been occupied by the hawkers, commercial establishments, unauthorised bars etc. Now, the pedestrians in Chennai have more chances of getting smashed by vehicles.
As per a resident activist from the Porur locality, the GCC takes action only after complaining and that was just for namesake without any solution. The accident data have confirmed that nearly half the number of pedestrian accidents took place on the footpaths.
Point is that about 19% met with an accident while crossing the road at the designated points. It is for this reason the GCTP has intensified its check and has been catching the traffic violators regarding signal jumping, stop line violations etc more now.
Additional commissioner of police, GCTP, Mr. Kapil Kumar expressed his thoughts. He wanted the motorists to drive carefully and responsibly. He threw light on how some motorists violate the stop line and stop their vehicles on the stop line creating issues for many pedestrians. He concluded that the pedestrians must slow down at the junctions and ensure the safety of the pedestrians.
For the pedestrians to have sufficient time to cross the roads, the visibility of the crossings plus stop lines must be improved plus the traffic signals must be reset. This was as per some experts of Road traffic. There must be better coordination between the state agencies.
Senior programme manager, ITDP, Ashwathy Dilip was of the view that the Tamil Nadu govt must make some policy changes for the safety of the pedestrians by prioritising them over the motorists. She explained that by constructing flyovers at the busy traffic junctions would only make the vehicles move faster and put the pedestrians at risk.
