People ignore safety measures in Sonepat

BS Malik

Sonepat, June 30

Around 40-km stretch of the National Highway-1 from Kundli to Gannaur in this district is considered the most congested road and danger zone in the area.

More than 55 per cent of the accidents in the district have occurred on the stretch.

According to records, 91 fatal and 112 non-fatal accidents were reported in March, April and May. In all, 97 people were killed in these three months, while 228 others were injured in the district. In 20 fatal and 31 non-fatal accidents till June 24, 21 people were killed and 49 were injured.

Sunil Kumar, DSP (Traffic), says drunken driving, over-speeding, overtaking from wrong sides, use of mobile phones while driving, exertion and dozing off are the reasons for accidents. “People should be conscious about road safety measures and must wear helmets and safety belts and use dipper lights during night,” he says and adds people know about the measures to be taken, but they never follow them.

All unauthorised cuts on the NH-1 have been closed, nearly 100 glowing signboards are being installed, and a police van and an ambulance will patrol the highway to help victims and keep an eye on unsafe, the DSP says.

Locals, however, point out that instead of closing the cuts, underpasses should be constructed to ensure passage to villages on the other side of the GT road.

The police, Kumar says, are preparing a list of 100 places where CCTV cameras will be installed on the NH-1. “A traffic helpline is in the pipeline.”

RK Arora, registrar of the DCR University of Science and Technology, Murthal, says the university had prepared a report on the Intelligent Transport System on Highways about two years back and submitted it to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for consideration. “Highway safety through Intelligent Transport System has been introduced as a subject in post-graduate and research classes,” he adds.