[anjan_c2007]

Today's The Times of India report reveals that 900 accidents have happened in 100 days since this super expressway was inaugurated on 11th December 2022 connecting Nagpur to Mumbai. The stretch from Nagpur to Shirdi has been opened, while the remaining stretch touching Mumbai is expected to be opened for traffic sometime soon.

The 900 accidents have claimed 31 lives till 20/03/23.

The statistics say:-

31 fatalities
46% due to mechanical breakdown
15% tyre puncture
12% tyre burst
14 % running out of fuel

Other causes are listed as animal entry, tail-end accidents, drowsiness and mechanically unfit vehicles.

Most of these are human negligence related and very, very few if any, could be categorised as acts of God.

Most of our vehicle owners pay a very scant regard to safety and pre checking of their cars prior to indulging in speeding on such expressways. The bare minimum checks of the steering system, tie rods, tyres, tubes, mechanicals, electricals and their upkeep is usually given a back seat.

To add to the woes, driver discipline is woefully wanting and traffic rules are openly flouted. Speed checks with a good population of speed guns are still lacking.

We have the news report here detailing the statistics for this particular E-way, but all the culpability factors are similar in many other similar E-ways.

As remedial measures, The Times of India report talks about driver counselling centres at eight entry points comprising 30 minutes to one hour sessions that could offer a little bit of solace. Many will get nauseated spending so much time to get counselled. Drivers and passengers have opted for the E-way to save time and even though life saving the average mindset feels fatigued. It should be preferable that counselling is done on a 24X7 basis through the media so that all concerned get educated much prior to embarking on such trips. Rather than listing high flying achievements of central and state governments through advertisements, it would be rather very prudent to educate the public with tips to conduct the listed checkups and take precautions through such advertisements, of their vehicles before embarking on their E-way trips. Driver education is also very necessary through the media.

Other safety measures proposed include educating about lane discipline, tyre pressure monitoring, installation of road safety signboards, public announcement systems at toll booths and rest places for truck drivers.

-Debating these measures, how is tyre pressure monitoring going to help if someone enters the E-way with unfit or bald tyres?

- The public announcement systems are a nuisance and an irritant to the ear. Rarely have these been effective.

Having travelled on this E-way I have observed wild monkeys intruding into the road space. It was their erstwhile habitat and so also for other faunal species. Road barriers or underpasses are lacking at many points.

As per the analysis of accident data of Samruddhi Expressway from December 11, 2022 to March 20, 2023, mechanical breakdowns due to overspeeding of vehicles accounted for over 400 accidents.
Punctures and tyre bursts had led to over 130 and 108 accidents, respectively. Similarly, vehicles running out of fuel contributed to 14% (126) accidents on the portion of the expressway opened for traffic.

The link:-

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/nagp...w/98880781.cms

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

The 900 accidents have claimed 31 lives till 20/03/23.

The statistics say:-

31 fatalities
46% due to mechanical breakdown
15% tyre puncture
12% tyre burst
14 % running out of fuel

Other causes are listed as animal entry, tail-end accidents, drowsiness and mechanically unfit vehicles.

Most of these are human negligence related and very, very few if any, could be categorised as acts of God.
...
To add to the woes, driver discipline is woefully wanting and traffic rules are openly flouted. Speed checks with a good population of speed guns are still lacking.
...
As remedial measures, The Times of India report talks about driver counselling centres at eight entry points comprising 30 minutes to one hour sessions that could offer a little bit of solace.
...
Other safety measures proposed include educating about lane discipline, tyre pressure monitoring, installation of road safety signboards, public announcement systems at toll booths and rest places for truck drivers.

This article (How Sweden is Building Safer Roads) provides many insights into why our new expressways are so accident-prone. Quoting from the article:

Instead of making roads easy and convenient to drive on, the focus has shifted to designing roads in a way that makes it difficult to drive dangerously on. To achieve this, they have been implementing more ‘traffic calming measures'.
...
...if you think of it this way, have you ever been on a nice wide road with no bends and the speed limit, no matter what it is, feels almost as though you’re crawling along? In situations like this it’s easy to speed without realising because it feels more comfortable.

Alternatively, have you ever been driving somewhere and despite the speed limit, you find yourself going slower? The bends in the road are just that bit sharper, or the roads are a tad too narrow, and as a result you’ve slowed below the speed limit without thinking about it.

Other initiatives of the program include early childhood education about road safety and developing a comprehensive database to guide future projects.

Since the creation of Vision Zero, Sweden has seen a 68% decrease in their rate of road fatalities.

One of the main calming measures that Sweden has introduced is the 2 plus 1 roads.



They are a three-lane road where each direction has one consistent lane, while a middle lane sort of snakes and alternates every few kilometres, often separating the directions by a barrier. This provides safe zones for people to overtake and prevents traffic from being able to enter the oncoming lane. By doing this, drivers are forced to wait for safe zones (the middle lane when available to their direction) to overtake and therefore are no longer taking the risk of entering the oncoming traffic lane when wishing to overtake.

Sweden is not the only country to implement such measures, in Australia we have calming measures including speed bumps and hazard signs around. However, it can’t be denied that Sweden is outperforming us in their reduction of road fatalities. It seems that Sweden’s commitment to implementing such measures to make roads safer rather than comfortable is the key difference.

[MyLife_MyCar]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

As remedial measures, The Times of India report talks about driver counselling centres at eight entry points comprising 30 minutes to one hour sessions that could offer a little bit of solace.

Such a baseless and unthoughtful remedy. By making it mandatory, they will make people wait before the counselling starts. It will be like waiting for a movie show. Imagine how many will have patience to do so when they have chosen this route to save time by shelling out so much money for the toll.

As a result, many will tend to overspeed to make up for the time spent (lost) in the councelling.

Who comes up with such solutions? Will that person himself/herself ever go through this process if they were to travel on expressway? Just another inconvenience to the public.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

This article (How Sweden is Building Safer Roads) provides many insights into why our new expressways are so accident-prone. Quoting from the article:

I am sorry, but traffic calming is for urban roads.

We have had enough of natural traffic calming in our typical Indian roads, let us have some years of barbaric free flowing expressways before adapting to the cuddly traffic calming North European model.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by DicKy

...let us have some years of barbaric free flowing expressways...

So be it. Then why are we even bothered to discuss 900 accidents and 31 deaths in 100 days on just one expressway? Let the mayhem carry on!

[fhdowntheline]

India cannot be compared to any country for model traffic behavior. Sweden/Australia? Let them have rickshaws, two wheelers, mini trucks with bales of grass or long pipes or livestock fluttering, or a tractor merrily blasting a dance track while flying at 5kph, car drivers without seatbelts merrily
changing lanes while talking on the phone , cars with black tinted windows and blinding headlamps, and of course the errant cows, goats,dogs.Then we will see how calm they become while driving.

[susan3004]

I drove on the Samruddhi Mahamarg while going to Aurangabad from Nagpur and while coming back the next week. My thoughts and views remained mostly the same as they are while on other roads.

I don't see any flaw in the design of the expressway, rather it is one of the best roads in the country.
Any quantum of counselling/briefing would not overcome the mere attitude of the travellers and staunch disregard to the authority and logic associated to it. The attitude of most of the drivers/travellers is against anybody who has words of wisdom to offer. We display sheer bravado in disregarding authority. Albeit, it would be a time consuming event which would not be appreciated by the commuter.

Following are the observations which need merit to ensure safety on all roads, more so on such expressways:-

Lane Driving
Vehicles occupying two lanes instead of any one lane irks the overtaking traffic and also disturbs the flow of vehicles approaching from behind. Changing of lanes with precaution while driving is never a problem, however, occupying two lanes at 'safe speeds' are a bigger hazard on the road for self and others.

Minimum Speed
Maintaining minimum speed is more important than crossing the speed limit by few kmph. Overtaking speed allowances are not talked about ever. The debate after two vehicles bump into each other begins and concludes by accusing the other of driving 'so fast'. The definition of fast remains a mystery while the blame game is on. By maintaining minimum speed, it would be ensured that vehicles generally move at a similar speed without surprising others.

Unsolicited Braking
Associated point with the above; when drivers have been found to brake without any reason while the field of view is clear to the vehicle following behind. The vehicle following behind in the same lane has a reason to believe that the vehicle ahead should maintain similar speed as it has been till now as there is no obstacle up ahead. This is a dangerous trend which results in rear ending.

Liesure Parking
Vehicles are parked on the side curbs and even otherwise. The reasons to such halts include breaks associated with easing oneself(call of the nature), throwing up, generally by the passengers, stretching limbs, clicking selfies/making videos by influencers and everybody and finally to cater for mechanical failure including flats. On the Samruddhi Mahamarg, it has been noticed with concern that vehicles have been flocking to stop under the shade of overbridges created as wildlife crossings. Passengers tend to step out of the vehicles and dangerously roam on the road which poses a treat to the other vehicles which have no intentions to stop like that.

Jaywalking
People crossing over the road or walking into it with no regard to the oncoming vehicles is a major reason of fatalities.

Feeding Animals
By feeding animals along the roads, there increases the chances of these animals straying on the roads and consequently disrupting the traffic or leading to accidents.

Ill-maintained vehicles
Poor mechanical condition of the vehicle is major reason for failure to keep up with the safety of self and others. This includes worn out tyres too.

Fatigue and Intoxication
Fatigued/Intoxicated drivers should stop and relax at designated places to park their vehicles. Such signage on the roads should be encouraged for the sake of safety.

Driving on the Wrong Side
One of the biggest and the worst reasons leading to accidents. These errants should be dealt with utmost strictness by authorities and also if law abiding drivers bring the defaulter to the notice of the authorities, it should be ensured that action against them is initiated to nip this problem.

The above observations were made on the Samruddhi Expressway during my travel.
Discarded and smashed liquor bottles and other containers present a negative image and gives an impression that we as counrtymen are not interested in taking care of the assets and perhaps not proud of our nation.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by MyLife_MyCar

As a result, many will tend to overspeed to make up for the time spent (lost) in the councelling.

Who comes up with such solutions? Will that person himself/herself ever go through this process if they were to travel on expressway? Just another inconvenience to the public.

Well analysed! Nagpur (later Mumbai gets added to the list) has an airport with flights connecting in all four directions and so also it is an important railway junction with trains moving in all possible directions from here. Hence, many would be opting for this E-way to reach Nagpur to either catch a flight or board a train from other towns or villages connected to the E-way.

Similarly, many would be moving to either to attend marriages or to medical emergencies, medical treatments, also to attend funerals and so on.

With such mindless and perhaps compulsory counselling they will be agitated and are bound to over speed to make up for the lost time.

The committee deciding such baseless remedies comprised of bureaucrats, senior police officials and the Transport Commissioner of Maharashtra with his officers.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Quoting from the article:

One of the main calming measures that Sweden has introduced is the 2 plus 1 roads.

This is a common use in many countries where there are Two lanes due to any reasons like rural roads or hills. Usually called Passing lane.

https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepub...5/1195-008.pdf


This is not done on 4 or 6 lanes and in India, I can only imagine the chaos such a measure can do where no one knows "Yielding" or "right of way". Forgot about the lane discipline, here, we squeeze through the smallest of gaps at the first opportunity.

Though I wish, someone does something to stop heavy vehicles in the right lane on 4/ 6 lane highways, perhaps cameras at regular intervals linked directly to RTO for Challan. The right lane has to be barred for all heavy vehicles on a 6 / 8 highway. No excuses.

The article that says some teaching, I will say a good step but this can be done somewhere on the way perhaps Where people stop for fuel or rest, at least to begin with.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

So be it. Then why are we even bothered to discuss 900 accidents and 31 deaths in 100 days on just one expressway? Let the mayhem carry on!

What else to say when the first solution proposed is traffic calming for an expressway? There are a dozen direct problems and a dozen indirect root causes that leads to these accidents. Some which has been already listed by @susan3004 clearly.

And even if say, these 2+1 traffic calming is implemented here. It would need basic lane manners for people to actually use. Heavy vehicles that hog the fast lane because of other impediments are going to weave through these +1 lanes? Wait. We already have 2+1 roads in India. Any undivided road automatically becomes 2+1+1+...You can count on a overtaking transport bus hurtling at you forcing you to slow down (or stop). You can count on bipeds or quadruped to calm you down. Wrong side driving actually calms the opposite traffic down. Less said about the state sponsored potholes, li'l mountains and rumble strips. Actually the advanced nations should take lesson from us for traffic calming.

Any new roads, especially faster ones or ones people are not used to will cause a temporary small spike in accidents. But the long term advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The last thing an expressway needs is traffic calming. It needs to have smooth flow of traffic that adheres to lane manners, while maintaining a minimum and maximum speed buffer. Conditions of the vehicles, tyres et al point to other root cause problems that needs to be addressed.

[susan3004]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

So be it. Then why are we even bothered to discuss 900 accidents and 31 deaths in 100 days on just one expressway? Let the mayhem carry on!

The only concern with this mayhem is that the gentry strongly believes that, hum to sar pe kaffan baandh kar nikal pade hain, tum humein bacha sakte ho to bacha lo!
Such is the threat to the genuine drivers from them!
It would be appreciated if they keep the mayhem to themselves!

[SKC-auto]

We should start implementing our own traffic calming technology(aka speedbreakers) on the expressways. Karnataka seems to be ahead here, as soon as I see speedbreakers on highways I tell my wife we are in Karnataka.

[veedub89]

Darwinism might fail everywhere else but it will continue to hold true on Indian roads.

Road design is definitely getting better day by day and gone are the days where major expressways or highways had significant design flaws. Road users don't have to deal with many surprises apart from the ones being thrown up by other road users.

Accidents will continue to happen because we give anyone with two hands and half a brain, a driving license.

You can have the best roads in the world but at the end of the day they will be as safe as people want them to be.

[gauravanekar]

I believe that starting such discussion without proper context is not correct.

Can we start by having the following data:

1. accidents per km travelled, comparison of this metric with older roads
2. comparison of per km accident rate among various expressways inside this country
3. comparison with expressways of other countries on per vehicle or per km basis

900 accidents without these kinds of comparison doesn't mean anything to me.

[dust-n-bones]

Granted that things like compulsory counselling are impractical, as also that most accidents involve human error/negligence. Though there is still something to be said about 'highways designed for safety'.

• Many were triggered by the example of a calming influence - may have been incorrect in context of a highway. How about the calming influence of toll booths? I understand the efficiency of toll-booths only at exits. But booths at regular intervals do break the monotony, and create natural opportunities to refuel, refresh, as also allow the vehicle/tyres to cool down, and allow a visual inspection.
  
• Why make arrow straight highways like the Samruddhi Mahamarg? We are (not yet) designing for self-drive vehicles after all, and gentle curves will keep humans more alert.
  
• Creative sign-boards, advertising, speed displays, digital info displays, tourist guidance - all help in breaking monotony. Mostly absent on this highway.
  
• Keeping the same speed limit over large distances is recipe for humans to lapse into cruise control mode. Limits can be reduced in accident/animal prone areas as an example. As also, some stretches can have higher limits.
  
• Visible presence of emergency vehicles - police, ambulances - on median breaks and visible outposts - helps as well, and of course can be a life saver.
  
• Median crash barriers - again a lifesaving device missing on this highway.
  
• Black top on the highway. Long cemented stretches do cause more wear and tear on the tyres.