As roads get busy, Chennai traffic police personnel back on their toes

The traffic police heaved a sigh of aid after accidents and rash driving dropped throughout the lockdown interval between March and September.

Since the beginning of September, after public transport resumed, they’re back on their toes to make sure security on the roads whilst full-fledged vehicular motion is but to renew. On high of this, additionally they have an extra job on hand — creating consciousness about COVID-19 among the many motorists.

According to statistics offered by the traffic police, between March 24 and September 5, highway accident deaths dropped by over 50% and the variety of associated accidents decreased by 63% in comparison with the corresponding interval final 12 months. However, fatalities and accidents between September and October 2020 are practically the identical in comparison with 2019.

“During the lockdown, there were no buses or autorickshaws and the vehicle population was less than half compared with normal days. The accidents then were mainly injuries caused by people falling from bikes or cycles, cases of speeding and accidents involving emergency vehicles. After the lockdown was lifted, traffic is slowly returning to normal,” stated N. Kannan, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic.

“Traffic is yet to resume fully as many schools, colleges and IT offices are still closed. Even MTC buses are not fully operational. But there are many two-wheelers and cars on the road. Early last month, there was a lot of rash driving as people got used to empty roads, now even that is on the wane as traffic density is increasing,” a senior police officer stated.

The police stated that they had recognized near 200 blackspots within the metropolis based mostly on the variety of fatalities. “If many accidents happen in the same spot over many years, it will be our first priority spot. We are studying the reason, including faults in road design, and we will take steps to resolve the issue,” Mr. Kannan stated.

Police officers stated enforcement was being made stricter. “Till now people were driving without helmets. We have started stopping those without helmets, those speeding and those driving after drinking. In the city’s periphery, we have placed barricades and checkposts to deter speeding.”

‘Adopting’ roads

The police have additionally began “adopting” roads, to facilitate easy move of traffic. “We are adopting roads which are congested and removing encroachments.”

“This will ensure free flow of traffic as the stretch will become wider, and accidents will also be prevented,” stated a senior police officer. Each police station will undertake one stretch for enchancment.

“If there is a black spot on the stretch, then they will devote more attention,” the officer added.

Though the traffic police are cracking down on rushing and traffic offences, they’re extra targeted on contactless enforcement to forestall the unfold of COVID-19.

“Since CCTV cameras were introduced, we track the speeding vehicle’s registration number and send a challan to the owner’s house. We are also going to introduce more automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras in many arterial stretches soon. So we do not have to stop a motorist when he commits an offence,” a senior police officer stated.

Many traffic policemen really feel that they now have an extra position to play. “Apart from handling traffic violations and regulating traffic, we are also creating COVID-19 awareness at traffic signals. We check for people not wearing masks and advise them to wear it or provide them with one,” a traffic inspector on Poonamallee High Road stated.