Dreams that get shattered on roads

Steep descents with sharp turns pose a higher risk of accidents. It is the responsibility of road authorities to install signals, warning boards, or speed breakers in such areas. The tragic death of four students at Panayampadam occurred at one such sharp curve. Over the past three years, various accidents in Panayampadam have claimed 12 lives and resulted in around a hundred incidents. Yet, the authorities have not taken any substantial measures apart from installing a warning board! As accidents became a regular occurrence, the Motor Vehicles Department submitted a report six months ago demanding enhanced safety measures. However, the National Highway Authority did not take any action. Despite numerous complaints pointing out that unscientific road construction is the cause of these accidents, no significant inspections have been conducted in the area.

The apathy of authorities is one of the main reasons for the numerous accidents on the road. Timely road maintenance can significantly reduce the incidence of accidents. According to locals and public representatives, accidents in Panayampadam can be prevented only if the steep descent is avoided and the curve is straightened. The National Highway Authority should seriously consider this and adopt permanent solutions. Four students - Irfana Sherin, Ridha Fathima, Nidha Fathima, and AS Ayisha - who were returning from school after exams, tragically lost their lives in the Panayampadam accident. While nothing can alleviate their families' grief, the government should provide all necessary relief measures, including compensation. Similarly, two vehicles carrying school children were involved in accidents in Thiruvananthapuram district the other day. A school bus from Kairali Vidhyabhavan in Nedumangad lost control and crashed into a post, injuring 12 children. Meanwhile, an autorickshaw carrying children from St. Thomas School in Pothencode lost control and overturned, injuring three children.

Parents who send their children to school are forced to live in fear and anxiety until the children return home. This year alone, 2,843 fatalities and 36,561 accidents were reported till September. Despite spending crores on installing AI cameras, the number of accidents in the state continues to rise, showing no signs of decrease. The number of pedestrians losing their lives in road accidents is also on the rise. This month, a bank employee in Thiruvananthapuram was crushed to death between two buses while crossing the road. Following that, a differently-abled employee who fell on the road lost her life after being run over by a bus. It is distressing that not a single day passes without news of such tragic road accidents.

According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, India has the worst record of road accidents globally. Excessive speed, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol are major causes of accidents. Similarly, another crucial factor contributing to accidents is unscientific road construction, which leads to hazardous conditions. Furthermore, a disturbing road culture prevails in the country, where even minor infractions escalate into heated arguments. This needs to change. A new traffic culture must be fostered by cultivating a generation that practices traffic rules and regulations from the school level itself.