Trucks are the number one killers stalking city roads

Trucks are the number one killers stalking city roads
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Trucks and tempos have claimed highest number of lives in the city this year, according to statistics available with the traffic police.

Trucks were involved in as many as 155 mishaps and claimed 165 lives till October this year, followed by tempos which accounted for 83 deaths in 77 mishaps.

In fact, these figures are a cause for worry for the traffic cops, as most of such fatal accidents have taken place either on Outer Ring Road or on the city outskirts.

Not surprisingly, in the east zone, Madiwala (60) K R Puram (50) and the newly carved-out Banaswadi (43) traffic station registered the highest number of fatal accidents, while it is Peenya (54) and Yelahanka (34) that is keeping the west division busy registering mishaps.

Senior traffic police officials said that fewer signal lights and too many cross roads were the reasons for more fatal accidents involving trucks. ‘‘In the city limits, there are signal lights at every important junction and also one-ways to avoid head-on collisions.

On Hosur Road, 50 accidents have taken place just beyond the Silk Board Junction. People at Koodlu Gate and Garvebhavipalya cross the road in a haphazard manner and become victims,’’ DCP East (Traffic) M A Saleem told this paper.

Officials also said that a lack of adequate pedestrian crossings is another reason why trucks claim more lives. ‘‘In west zone, mishaps take place where a main road meets the highway. Fewer road humps and pedestrian crossings at important junctions are the reasons behind the increasing fatalities,’’ DCP West (Traffic) Ramsubba said.

Experts feel that with elevated highway projects on the pipeline, the situation might get worse. Several citizen associations have been submitting memoranda for skywalks at various junctions, but they are yet to materialise.