When all ‘kid-gloves’ measures prove futile, the whip has to be cracked to get people to fall in line. The management at YMCA Boys Town Higher Secondary School, a government-aided institution in Kottivakkam, realised this many years ago, when its advice to students to use the foot over bridge (FOB) while crossing Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) fell on deaf ears. With the FOB located bang opposite the school, this was unpardonable behaviour; and the management decided to tackle this defiance by slapping a fine on any student caught jumping over the median or jaywalking across OMR. The school levies a measly amount — ranging from Rs. 2 to Rs. 10 — but the fine is followed up with a rather uncomfortable demand on the erring students. They are asked to bring their parents to meet the head of the institution. B. Sundari, headmistress of the school, says that after this system of punishment was introduced, the number of students crossing OMR at undesignated points has dropped significantly. Wondering why this school is making extraordinary efforts to keep its students from jaywalking across OMR?
In 2007, a class VIII girl student of the school was fatally knocked down by a speeding bus while crossing the stretch. Back then, there was no FOB near the school. In another incident, a boy met with a serious head injury while crossing the road. In an unconscious state, he was hospitalised for a few months before losing the battle for life. “We sent many representations to the local authorities to speed up the construction of the foot over bridge. Also, we wanted it located near the school,” says Sundari.
With a strength of 547 students, the school probably has a good number of people who are using the FOB during rush hour, from 8.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“Even after the FOB came up, we noticed that students from the higher classes were not using it as some of them find it thrilling to jump over the median, that’s when we decided to impose fines and summon their parents,” says a teacher. The school gives road safety messages at the morning assembly.
Other issues
The school management has many other problems that it wants addressed by TNRDC. The FOB has no lighting facility. Giant hoardings cover either side of the walkway, making it unsafe to walk on the FOB late in the evening.
“Unlike the FOBs at the Tidel Park junction and Siruseri, which register footfall throughout the day, this one at Kottivakkam is not widely used. It’s sometimes scary to walk there even during the day,” says a teacher, adding that the hoardings must be erected only on one side.
Recently, the FOB got a fresh coat of paint but pedestrians say its maintenance must be overseen regularly.
