Delhi Traffic Police has drawn an extensive plan to deal with heavy and medium goods vehicles and its drivers that take to the Capital’s roads after lifting of the ‘no entry’ restriction at the border. Efforts are being made to reduce increasing fatal accidents and avoid massive traffic jams. With about 45,000 medium and heavy goods vehicle entering Delhi, it’s not just congestion that is overwhelming but also life and safety concerns of road users.
In 2013 about 964 fatal accidents were reported at night as compared to 852 in the day. Till August 2014, 577 people have died in fatal nigh accidents as compared to 537 during day.
Most fatal accidents at night take place on Ring Road and outer ring road, near the flyovers. The biggest black spot being Nigam Bodh Ghat flyover area. Delhi Traffic police has identified 16 accident prone flyovers. they are Sarita Vihar, Dhaula Kuan, ITO, Dabri, AIIMS, Mahipalpur and Rajokari. Traffic jams reported at entry points in Delhi mostly arise near Ashram Chowk on Ring Road, Ghazipur, Anand Vihar and Badarpur border with sudden entry of large number of goods carriers, trucks, tempos, light goods vehicles and Tata 407s.
Delhi Traffic Police plans to extend restriction timings for heavy and medium vehicles entering Delhi by half-an-hour on at night and in the morning, so they can now be on Delhi roads 10 pm onward instead of 9.30 pm and not after 7 am. Traffic police duty is extended till 4.00 A.M. as against 9.00 P.M earlier.
Interceptors with night vision facilities for enforcement, adding towing/lifting/hauling equipment, traffic signals, blinkers and auditory signals, gantry mounted speed check (Day & Night) cameras at vulnerable locations, use of variable message sign boards , and integration and augmentation of Traffic Control Centre is now a focus..
Delhi Traffic Police has asked neighbouring States to not allow the pile up of goods vehicles on roadsides. The issue was raised in a meeting of the coordination committee. Counterparts in UP and Haryana have been asked to restrict pile-up of vehicles in their roads.
MoRTH secretary Mr Vijay Chibber said the Union government plans to establish ‘The National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board’ by 2014 end. It will help in development and regulation of road safety, traffic management system and safety standards in highway design and construction.
Accidents during dark hours including twilight and morning fog are attributed to lack of lights, driving or riding under influence of alcohol, higher driving speeds due to empty roads, poor road engineering , construction site non safety measures, impaired night vision, and more says K.K. Kapila. Chairman, IRF.
MoRTH measures to promote road safety at dark, hazards of night driving and hazards faced by night drivers, vehicle standards for night driving, amd night time enforcement use of reflective tapes will create a road safety environment.
