Pune’s Dangerous Speed Breakers: Faulty Setup Poses Threat To Motorists
Pune, 21st July 2023: Speed-breakers are meant to regulate speed and ensure safety on the roads, but the haphazard and unscientific placement of these barriers has become a fatal concern for motorists.
Despite guidelines and policies, it has come to light that there is a lack of adherence to specific criteria such as length, width, slope, and height while constructing these speed breakers. Consequently, the varying sizes and dimensions of the barriers are turning them into bottlenecks on the roads.
The Indian Road Congress (IRC) has established criteria for the proper construction of speed breakers, which the municipal corporation adopted in its policies and guidelines. However, implementation on the ground remains largely lacking, as evidenced by a petition filed in the Bombay High Court following accidents caused by poorly placed speed breakers. The court had issued orders to local bodies, including the municipal corporation, to address the issue. As a result, a committee was formed to devise a policy, but members of the committee were left out of the decision-making process, and the policy was approved without adequate discussion.
The specified criteria for speed breakers include the placement of warning signs to alert motorists in advance, rumble strips with thermoplastic paint five meters before the stop, adequate lighting, and proper water drainage measures to avoid water accumulation. Moreover, the municipal corporation is required to conduct a survey to determine the number of speed breakers and ensure their proper placement.
Currently, there is a lack of uniformity in the setup of speed breakers across Pune City’s 1,400-kilometer road network. The municipal administration admits that they lack data on the scientific placement of speed breakers on roads with various widths, from 12 meters to 24 meters.
Efforts have been initiated to enforce the policies and guidelines more strictly in recent months, with the erection of three to four standard speed bumps. However, it is essential to obtain no-objection certificates from the police and approval from various municipal departments before setting up these barriers. A survey to identify and address existing bottlenecks is also on the agenda.
The ongoing battle over this issue has been marked by a lack of concrete action and accountability from the municipal corporation. The committee formed to address the matter has seemingly served little purpose, and there is a lack of proper maintenance and inspection of the speed breakers.
The apathetic approach of the municipality towards this critical issue raises concerns about public safety and the need for prompt action to prevent accidents caused by poorly placed and unsafe speed breakers.
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