The absence of traffic signals at Fourth Avenue, Shanthi Colony Main Road, Anna Nagar, is causing inconvenience for motorists.
Vehicles are parked haphazardly on both sides of the avenue forcing pedestrians to walk in the middle of road, who are prone to be hit by the speeding vehicles. Chances of accidents are very high on the avenue. Traffic on the stretch is heavy during peak hours as vehicles and MTC buses ply on this road to reach Ambattur and Avadi. “Crossing the thoroughfare is an ordeal for the pedestrians. Vehicles do not stop for the walkers to cross the roads. The authorities concerned should install a traffic and pedestrian signal at the earliest,” said R. Aravindh, a college-student.
“The intersection of Seventh Main Road and Third Main Road, and Eighth Main Road and Third Main Road, Anna Nagar, is an accident-prone zone. It is a common sight to see vehicles zoom past the two intersection flouting traffic rules and regulations. Vehicles come from nowhere forcing us to apply sudden brakes,” S. Balakrishnan, a resident of Fourth Avenue, said.
The situation has become worse after the traffic changes in and around Anna Nagar to facilitate metro rail work. Things can turn fatal for both motorists and pedestrians, he added. Thomas Vincent, a resident of Anna Nagar, had a different thing to say. He says despite functioning of traffic signals at vantage points in the city, vehicle users continue to throw caution to the wind.
“Installation of a traffic and pedestrian signal would not be of much help in regulating the traffic as most motorists and pedestrians do not follow traffic rules. Many do not adhere to road rules despite innumerable attempts conceived by Chennai City Traffic Police to promote safe driving and enforce traffic discipline in the city,” he said. After 10 p.m., people do not bother to stop at traffic signals.
Unless the attitude of the people changes, nothing can be done to prevent accidents, he added. The entire stretch of Fourth Avenue till the intersection of Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Thirumangalam, Anna Nagar, does not have a traffic signal.
Walkers have to literally dodge the vehicles to cross from one end to another.
Pedestrians have to negotiate moving vehicles to cross the road, says Arun Karthikeyan, employee of an IT company.
