Bad roads - a back breaking problem

Bad roads - a back breaking problem
Vijay Times

Srinivasa M, a banker who enjoys his cricket and commutes daily on his motorcycle from Doddaballapur to the City, had no health complaints, until he began to experience a nagging pain emanating from his tail-bone.

A visit to the doctor and an X-ray later, he discovered he was suffering from a hairline fracture.

Doctors presumed it was due to his sporting schedule. The reason lay elsewhere - bad roads! Medical experts confirm, driving regularly on bad roads leads to a range of orthopaedic problems, especially among two-wheeler riders.

Experts from the Sanjay Gandhi Accident Hospital, Trauma and Research Centre say, regular riding use of bad, bumpy roads leads to permanent back problems and damaged discs for riders.

"Despite back exercises, physical modifications and physiotherapy, they remain permanent in some cases," says a senior doctor.

"The spine and tail-bone are most affected among two-wheeler riders. These problems are not caused by accidents, but bumps and jerks," he adds.

M N Shreehari, chairman, Traffic Engineers and Safety Trainers (TEST) and traffic advisor to State government, laments: "There was a proposal two years back to widen 46 roads in the City, but not one has been widened as yet." So, is the solution good roads? Definitely! But the solution comes with its own problems.

Good roads, especially those recently laid, are encouraging motorists to speed, posing a graver risk of serious injuries by accidents.

Roads such as the Mysore Road after Kengeri, Hosur Road, Yelahanka by-pass, Bellary Road, West of Chord Road are witness to overspeeding by several motorists.

Even newly asphalted inner roads, such as the one in Malleswaram see the same problem. Most dangerous of all vehicles are the heavy-tyred ones, drivers of which find a better grip for their tyres and are tempted to step on the accelerator.

Experts feel the problem is due to an indiscriminate proliferation of vehicle registration and absence of road discipline among motorists.

At present, over three lakh vehicles are registered in the City each year, even as the vehicle number has crossed 26 lakh.

Numbers apart, it is any day better to have smooth roads and strict vigil by Traffic Police rather than have bad roads that break your backs!