Role of speed breakers is crucial to prevention of accidents by checking reckless driving and over-speeding. But, the absence of mandatory zebra markings on the speed breakers in Tiruchi city and its suburbs is posing a serious threat to road users, particularly at night.
In addition, the boards warning the presence of speed breakers a little distance ahead, which used to be of immense help, are missing in points.
All the service roads within the city limits have speed breakers. But, the zebra paintings have slowly vanished from these roads, and they are not being repainted. A section of vehicle users feels that it is high time that the NHAI painted the speed breakers immediately.
The civic body has laid speed breakers on several roads in the recent past. A majority of them have come up near educational institutions and places of worship. People complain that these speed breakers were laid not taking into account the interests of pedestrians and with little concern for vehicle users.
Of late, the number of speed breakers put up without adhering to the rules has gone up considerably. Warning boards and zebra marking are conspicuous by their absence.
Adding to the woes of motorists are speed breakers constructed on narrow roads in places where there are no street lights. At some places they are too bumpy.
C. Balasubramanian, district president of Exnora International, lamented that there are specifications for erecting speed breakers. But scant regard is being given to these specifications. The speed breakers cause immense hardship to pregnant women, sick, and the elderly. The corporation should take steps for correcting the height and breadth of all speed breakers, install warning boards nearby, and paint zebra lines.
Mr. Balasubramanian also suggested formation of a committee comprising officials from the transport and highways departments, and the police to identify spots where speed breakers could be erected and spot ‘dangerous’ speed breakers and bumps.
Further, he pleaded for steps for painting way arrows, traffic signboards, and tiger markings on the city roads and service roads.
