Safety audit of sidewalks

The Supreme Court has directed the National Highways Authority of India and the states to conduct a safety audit of footpaths in fifty cities in the country. These include Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Kannur. The bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala also directed that rules be framed under the Motor Vehicles Act within six months to ensure safety of pedestrians and the quality of roads.

In developed countries, pedestrians and cyclists are given utmost care and allowed dedicated pathways for commuting. It is unfortunate that in populous India, pedestrians are given only ‘cattle class’ consideration.

The sidewalks of Indian cities are being taken over by vendors of small stalls, fruits and other shops. It is a common sight across the nation, notwithstanding metropolitan cities. This has forced pedestrians to walk on roads instead. The rate of pedestrian deaths in India has been surging in the last few years. Most of the dead are ordinary people, so the authorities seldom give a hoot about the issue. In this context, the Supreme Court's directive to conduct a safety audit of urban sidewalks carries significance.

It has been specifically directed that priority should be given to pathways near markets, railway stations, bus stands, places of worship, schools and other places. It has also been directed that if the design of the roads is found faulty, action should be taken against the concerned officials and contractors. The suggestions also include making helmets mandatory for both the driver and pillion of two-wheelers, and preventing the misuse of bright LED headlights, red and blue beacon lights, and sirens.

Despite the new introduction of many well-planned footpaths in cities, a lion's share of pedestrians still stick with their old ways, choosing to walk on the road instead, amidst swiftly moving vehicles. The service roads of the national highways under construction in Kerala are also narrower than those in other states. A suggestion on how such problems can be resolved should also be part of the safety audit. The Supreme Court has directed that the 15-20 spots where the most accidents have occurred in the last three years be identified, and the footpaths should be renovated. Similarly, zebra crossings that are not in a usable condition should be identified and renovated. In addition to controlling encroachments on the roadside, since it is the livelihood of lakhs of ordinary people, city administrations should work on ways to allow dedicated spaces for them to operate.