The city of Chennai is
known for its lanes and bylanes – and there are not many motorable roads in its
real sense. The Beach road aka Kamarajar
Salai is a stretch which generally flows free with traffic
The roads of Chennai are
fast becoming killing fields with so many accidents getting reported – with some
stretches like Tambaram, far off Manali – becoming notorious for the no. of
accidents and the casualties. People drive mad, often without control. Most driver lack or are not aware of the road
sense, road discipline, respecting signals and road rules, respecting the other
road users, allowing elderly, small and disabled to cross the roads – all these
are missing. At every signal, you can
spot vehicles jumping the signals or driving faster when the signal has already
closed. There are fools, [even owning
some costly cars] who drive faster behind the ambulance, when the ambulance
somehow wades its way through.
There are barricades put up
in late hours and removed after dawn – they are placed partially across the
road one on the left and the other after a few meters on the right – intending that
vehicles will have to slow down and pass them one by one, slightly altering
their paths; but they become so dreaded and dangerous as most vehicles,
especially the commercial taxies, sumos, and trucks – never care to reduce
their speed would swerve dangerously making everyone else run for cover and
they pass those barriers so recklessly.
Coming back, Marina beach
has beautiful wide platform on which hundreds do their morning walk – this is
protected by iron railings placed on stone pedestals – after the footpath,
there are again, smaller girders and then grassy lawns – many statues there
inside.
This morning [28th
July 2012] near Avvaiyar statue - saw a lorry, which had totally lost its
control – ran through the barrier, the pavement, dislodged the stone pedestal
and into the lawns – the speed, lack of control, arrogant driving – all there
to see. Sad that in that process, it
killed a two wheeler rider, in the early morning of around 0430 – perhaps a person who was
going home after finishing nightshift or somebody going to job early in the
day. Sad, and most likely that the 2 wheeler was riding on his path, as could
be seen from the accident spot. Whether the
truck was indeed driven by a driver with valid license, whether he was
intoxicated or slept at the wheel or something else happened – all can be
hazarded a guess.
Sure, there is need for
very strong measures to bring in road discipline and stop the spilling of blood
on road.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar.
28th July 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment