With the poor enforcement of one-way traffic rules and lack of on-the-spot-punishment for violators, driving on city roads, especially on the Kannur and Wayanad national highway after 8 p.m., has become a risky affair for motorists.
The ‘No Entry’ signboards are neglected by heavy vehicles, including long-distance buses and inter-State goods carriers. The continuing misunderstanding of drivers that one-way traffic regulation is hardly enforced after 8 p.m. worsens the issue.
“Vehicles with high beam headlights and poor lane discipline rule the roads after 8 p.m. as police vigil is minimal,” says V.N. Rahul, a sales executive from the city. Nadakkavu Cross Road and English Church Junction are the best examples of this in the city, he says. Though complaints against the illegal practice are on the rise, police officials claim that they are short of the required manpower to enforce the rules, especially in during late hours. According to the police, the city is in need of an additional strength of at least 300 personnel to streamline traffic. “We are still managing the show with the staff pattern sanctioned in 1993. Also, the number of patrolling vehicles is less, they point out.
“The late night accidents are fortunately less on the route only because of the awareness of people on the illegal practice and their willingness to opt for defensive driving for their safety,” says Abhijith Venu, a vehicle mechanic from Nadakkavu. He also points out that the ‘no entry’ boards set up to signal traffic regulations are small in size and should be replaced with bigger ones.
