The recent accident at Rimmanaguda in Gajwel mandal killing 13 people is a double whammy with mistakes being committed by drivers and improperly laid roads leading to frequent and fatal accidents.
Police have confirmed that the negligence of the RTC driver was the reason for the May 26 accident.
Rajiv Rahadari passes through about 96 km. in Siddipet district from Vantimamidi in Mulugu mandal to Devakkapally in Bejjanki mandal. Many vehicles on this road travel at 100 kmph and some even touch 130 kmph though the speed limit is 80 kmph. Those speeding vehicles often try to overtake the vehicle in front from the left instead of the rule-and safety-mandated right, resulting in accidents. To exacerbate, the stretch has more than 60 curves from Shameerpet to Siddipet alone which is also one of the main reasons for accidents.
Consider this. In 1998, 11 labourers were killed when a lorry carrying sand overturned at Gouraram. In 2006, as many as 13 TRS workers were killed when the bus they were travelling was hit by a lorry.
Two persons were killed when a bus crossed the divider and fell on the other side of the road in the recent past. The general observation is that many accidents can be prevented if the height of the divider is more than what it now.
Heavy toll
In the last five years, till May 29, as many as 845 accidents took place in Siddipet district on Rajiv Rahadari and 447 people were killed. Add to that the 1,199 injured.
Moreover, the stretch passes through the jurisdiction of 20 police stations limits and as many as 65 black spots were identified by the police.
“Careless and drunk driving, not being fresh while driving, stress due to long driving hours, and not following rules are some of the major causes for road accidents. As slow drivers drive along the divider, those coming at high speed overtake from the left resulting in accidents. Some drivers overtake even at turnings,” G. Narasimha Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Siddipet, told The Hindu .
More trees on dividers
To avoid accidents, trees need to be grown on the dividers that would prevent glares during night driving. Currently, very few places on the long stretch have trees on dividers.
Moreover, vehicle bays every 10 km. on either side of the road with water, toilets, in a 300-metre area so that lorry drivers can stop and freshen up are needed, according to him. At present there are very few vehicle bays.
Mr. Reddy also felt that there was a need to provide safe passage for villagers near the Rajiv Rahadari. The police are also proposing to establish breath analysers and speed guns to curb high speed driving.
