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NGO expresses concern over high number of fatalities on city roads
TNN | Jan 10, 2016, 08.00 PM IST
PUNE: Pedestrians First, a NGO, working for road safety and sustainable transport has expressed concern over the fact that more than 400 lives are lost every year on city roads. A total of 435 people lost their lives in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad in 2015, data compiled by the Pune traffic police states. ``It is really a matter of serious concern that 435 lives were lost in road accidents last year'', convener of Pedestrians First, Prashant Inamdar said. According to Pedestrians First, some of the reasons why city roads have become unsafe are poor design of roads and junctions with an outdated flawed traffic signal system. ``There are road widths in excess of requirement considering traffic volume. There is also continuous unhindered passage for vehicles, with signal free junctions, flyovers, and subways. There is lack of traffic calming measures to restrict vehicle speeds to safe level '', Pedestrians First said.
There is over speeding among vehicle users, as also dangerous overtaking and lane cutting. One of the main reasons is the increase in personal vehicles because of poor public transport. It causes severe traffic issues including road safety for individual citizens. Also there lack of adequate safe usable facilities for pedestrians (footpaths, road crossings), lack of proper lighting on roads and at pedestrian crossings. Use of high beam of head lights can also cause accidents due to glare, he said.
About lack of road infrastructure he said, there is absence of sufficiently large size regulatory, cautionary and informatory signages on road. The signages should be prominently placed and clearly visible to the vehicle driver. There is also rampant traffic indiscipline and lack of civic sense among citizens, Pedestrians First said.