Road rage on the highway

The mangled remains of two lorries that were involved in an accident at Tiruchi-chennai National Highway on Wednesday. Photo: A. Muralitharan

An early morning accident involving two goods carriers on the Tiruchi-Chennai bypass at Senthaneerpuram in the city on Wednesday kept the police and fire fighters on their toes.

A Chennai-bound trailer lorry rammed a stationary goods carrier from behind disrupting vehicular movement on the bypass for over an hour.

As is the case with several such accidents on national highways crisscrossing Tiruchi, the cabin of the trailer lorry was completely smashed in the collision. Fortunately, the driver and cleaner escaped with injuries. However, the same has not been the case with many other previous accidents on different stretches of National and State highways falling within the district.

Over the past five months (January to May), at least 125 fatalities were recorded in 111 national highway accidents registered in the district. Equally disturbing were the statistics of State highways — at least 66 dead in 58 accidents.

Driving at high speed, negligence, momentary nap on the part of driver, especially at odd hours, and error of judgment, were among the factors, police sources said.

Several accidents have occurred along NH 45 – Chennai to Dindigul route, said the sources.

In Manapparai sub-division alone, part of which falls in the Tiruchi-Dindigul and Tiruchi-Madurai routes, the number of fatal accident cases reported were 69.

To handle this increasing instances of fatal accidents, the number of highway patrol units was augmented from 6 to 11 a few months ago. The lengthy stretches of some highways were split into two and additional patrol units deployed along the divided sectors.

The Tiruchi district police have decided to identify accident-prone stretches in every sub-division.

With the identification of Maravanur, Muthupudayanpatti, Sevalur diversion, Manjampatti, and Nochimedu Junction as accident-prone in the Manapparai sub-division encompassing Manapparai, Thuvarankurichi, Vaiyampatti, and Puthanatham police stations, a beginning has been made.

At a recent meeting with the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) officials at Manapparai, the police discussed remedial measures to curb accidents in Manapparai sub-division .

Such remedial measures for other sub-divisions would be decided in consultation with district administration and highway authorities, police sources said.

Boards to caution drivers about ‘U’ turns on highways are proposed to be installed.