All of us are well aware that perpetual disobedience, lack of driving sense and awareness about the concept of safe or defensive driving, coupled with poor enforcement of rules, have resulted in chaotic driving conditions on Indian roads. The careless and undisciplined attitude of drivers is the main reason for road accidents. Other reasons are, drunken driving, fast driving, impatience, use of mobile while driving, disobedience of traffic rules, overloading of vehicles and conditions of roads. The newspapers are full of gory details of road accidents every day.
Over the years our very quiet and easily negotiable Malibu Township has today become a bustling colony. With more construction and many more builder floors in the offing, very soon it is expected to become a noisier and road safety hazardous township. However, if all residents join hands for certain essential upgrades of infrastructure and follow the safety rules and regulations, this situation can certainly be circumvented to a large extent.
Hopefully, the eagerly awaited paving of roads by MCG will be undertaken after monsoons. The experience of other colonies, which were taken over by the MCG earlier, has shown that besides the work undertaken by them, much more needed to be done by respective RWAs to ensure a reasonable standard of road safety.
With the original walk paths having almost vanished or not maintained, roads being occupied on both sides for parking of cars plus unconcerned speeding vehicles, residents are finding it unsafe to walk on the majority of the roads in our colony. Unfortunately, a large number of the residents do not want to take the trouble of parking the cars in their respective driveways or utilize the stilt parking provision.
The Malibu Township Federation of RWAs has been taking several steps to ensure road safety and has also been actively studying the installation of CCTVs in the complete township. This will not only enhance Security but also contribute to road safety by identifying unsafe road activity and taking appropriate action.
A couple of years back a few energetic residents had made a laudable effort to educate the residents, drivers of delivery vehicles/construction material trucks, etc. Such good efforts by volunteer residents in future will go in vain unless repeated at frequent intervals and most importantly fully supported by an upgrade of existing infrastructure and implementation of measures for road safety.
Some suggested measures for road safety are enumerated below for consideration:
1. A larger number of Standard-size well-painted and marked speed breakers (not back-breakers!) at suitable locations after completion of MCG road paving work. Concrete speed beakers are more durable and easier to maintain. While it is annoying to be going over many speed breakers, do we have an alternate viable solution? Rumble strips are of little use. Cumbersome road Barriers are practical ONLY if these are manned, otherwise, these tend to be shifted at will, causing traffic jams and also becoming hazards.
2. Besides painted Kerb slabs, the center marking of the roads with reflectors. More speed limit signs.
3. Proper painting of road crossing markings. Pedestrians should walk a maximum of two abreast and use road crossing markings.
4. Clearance of bushes and trimming of trees at blind corners. More reflective mirrors and no parking of vehicles at such spots. Installation of more powerful streetlights at vital crossings.
5. Well-maintained and lighted Walk Paths, wherever still possible in the colony. Residents will need to cooperate where these have been made unusable.
6. No overtaking. Mandatory use of turning indicators. No honking and strict checks by Security Staff on speeding vehicles, especially by motorbike riders.
7. A check on underage children driving vehicles. Periodic check of driving licenses, preferably by local traffic police.
8. Parking fees be charged for any vehicle not parked inside the residences or on vacant plots. This includes vehicles jutting out and occupying road space. Funds collected can be utilized to maintain and upgrade the road safety measures.
9. Schools may be approached to hold periodic Road Safety lectures for students and teachers. Schoolchildren are excellent teachers and can influence everyone to not only follow traffic rules but also have concern and extend courtesy towards fellow citizens.
10. Display of Road safety posters with DO’s and DON’T’s on various Notice Boards.
Please do not get into a euphoric mindset that road accidents/incidents happen to someone else only, so why care? Residents will need to assist the RWA office bearers actively to implement the road safety measures. Also, it would be wishful thinking that these safety measures will happen free of cost.
Any suggestions for better solutions on this subject are welcome. Best wishes to all residents for road safety in or out of our township.
Excellent points. All of us have collective responsibility towards ensuring safe roads.