Measures to make ORR accident-free zone

HYDERABAD: With the Outer Ring Road (ORR) turning into a death trap for motorists and passengers, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has taken a slew of measures to check ghastly road accidents taking places mostly between Gachibowli and Shamshabad stretch.

Nearly 70 per cent of the accidents that occur on ORR are due to lack of lane discipline and rash and negligent driving. The stretch between Gachibowli and Shamshabad sees traffic flow of around 25,000 vehicles (four wheelers and above) that ply at a high speed.

The Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) on the request of Cyberabad Police have handed over as many as four patrol vehicles, equipped with speed guns and breath analysers to the latter to monitor the busy route and check reckless, negligent and rash drivers.

Additional speed limit sign boards with cautionary messages, cat's eye (a retro reflective safety device used in road marking on raised pavement markers), 'avoid drunken driving' boards will be put up at spots prone to maximum road accidents as extra precautionary measures, said B Anand Mohan executive engineer, HMDA .

The HGCL in association with Road Transport Authority (RTA) and Cyberabad Traffic Police has proposed to organise a road safety week shortly to provide tips on safe driving, following lane discipline, using indicators before changing lanes, etc., for those travelling through ORR.

On the basis of 12-13 parameters, HGCL with the help of agencies has identified the causes behind increasing road accidents as drunken driving, overspeeding, pedestrian, defect in mechanical condition of motor, overturning, head on, rear and end collision, collision brush or side wipe, etc.,

Weather conditions like fog, mist, rain, strong wind, etc. also lead to accidents. HGCL is are studying whether the accidents took place on main carriage way, service road, at the interchange, whether the road was straight, slight curve, sharp curve, flat road, steep incline, dip or hump etc.

The HGCL through the agencies is also distributing pamphlets create awareness on lane discipline, observing signages, wearing seat belts, parking sick or defunct vehicles on the paved shoulder near the crash barrier, Anand Mohan said.

Over speeding and racing, stopping on the expressway, over loading, entry of oversized vehicles, entry of two and three wheelers are prohibited on the expressway but allowed on service roads.

On main carriageway (8-lane expressway), the speed limit is 120 kmph, on all loops, ramps of the interchanges for exits and entries is 40 kmph, on service roads 40-60 kmph, on service roads near vehicle underpasses (VUPs) and pedestrian underpasses (PUPs) village roads, the speed limits should be 20 kmph, he added.