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Originally Posted by CANPUSH Yesterday, I saw a group with their luggauge, after Khopoli exit waiving to vehicles asking for lift. |
Blatant disregard to the safety of the passengers and violation of rules. The buses typically drop these passengers at the first Lonavala exit (from Mumbai to Pune), or else these people get up here from the town to hitch a ride towards Pune.
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH We are also seeing two wheelers on expressway these days and these people are not from the patrolling group. Many a times they are traveling in wrong direction creating further hazard to the traffic. |
These are mostly mechanics IMO and going by the number of vehicles broken down they are doing good business. I have yet to find a two wheeler rider creating a traffic hazard, but yes, he is a threat, no matter whether a mechanic or not.
Also on a brief section where the old and the new highways merge, two wheelers ARE allowed onto this section.
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH New fashion is to use hazard lights in the tunnels. Hazard lights are not meant for such situations. |
Totally stupid. I was returning from Pune this last Sunday and there was a traffic jam just outside the Lonavla tunnel, a result of four vehicles involved in an accident. With everyone using the blinkers inside the tunnel, it would be impossible to let the following drivers know there was some real danger ahead. There was every chance we could have had a huge pileup inside the tunnel.
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH I am also shocked to see people stopping the vehicles on the sides and enjoying their food seating on the road or side barriers. |
They shouldn't have been issued driving licenses. Is there a way we can photograph these people and then have the police prosecute them? Or rather take the police to court for not prosecuting them?
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH Wet surface caution boards are still not covered. |
Good thing is they will be there when monsoons come.
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH The expressway is designed for 120 kmph between Kiwale - Lonawala and Khopoli - Panvel section.
Actually, it is easy to install cameras on all the over bridges and monitor speed of vehicles. These vehicles can then be stopped at the toll plaza and penalised. |
The expressway is designed for a max speed of 80kmph, period. The idea of setting up cameras on the overbridges is really good.
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH I think it is necessary to warn the drivers through boards here or create a food plaza in this section and people will stop there for food and cool their tyres. |
There are enough boards warning the drivers of the hazards of overspeeding, including tyre bursts. There are boards asking drivers to ensure seat belts are fastened. There are boards advising drivers to follow lane discipline.
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Originally Posted by CANPUSH Also badly designed and located 'U' turns are coming up at places. |
I don't understand why there should be any U turns at all. For the emergency vehicles, there could easily be two sets of vehicles deployed on either side. Or else have the U turn located in just one or two specific areas and heavily publicize it.
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Originally Posted by rxpaul But most countries have a very comprehensive set of rules of driving, with written classes, parallel parking training etc so unless the Indian RTOs introduce these here, we will always have unruly driving on our roads. We should not blame the average cab driver or bus driver, 'they simply do not know ' !!! |
If you go through the Motor Vehicles Act, you will be surprised to see the level of detail covered in the Act. What we lack is the implementation.
Ignorance is no excuse. If you got your driving license, you are expected to know the rules. It's the pathetic policing we have which is the real culprit.
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Originally Posted by ghodlur Most of the E-way hardly there are any safety signs seen but huge billboards of real estate projects. No ambulances available in case of any accidents, I feel there is also a need for a hospital somewhere immedaitely afterv the Khalapur toll. |
There are enough boards advising safety to the drivers, read my comment above. And they have been there for many years. Also I hear there's a proposal to set up emergency trauma centres every 25kms or so along the e-way.
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Originally Posted by ghodlur The section where there is a diversion for the light and heavy vehicle is the most dangerous spot as most of the times the heavy vehicles enter the lane meant for the light vehicles. The naming is altogether wrong ... |
I have been driving on the old highway and now the expressway, and till date I have not been able to make out which lane is really meant for the small vehicles. I take whichever is easily accessible.
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Originally Posted by MX6 So much for the reckless driving of the cars that nowadays I see them overtaking from the shoulder on the ghat sections. They end up creating 4 or even 5 lanes in that stretch zipping in and out. |
Sometimes with all the lanes covered by heavy/light vehicles moving at a snail's pace, you cannot help but use the shoulder. Slower vehicles should be banned from the rightmost lane to prevent such incidents.
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Originally Posted by IQBAL VEERJI I avoid stopping on the way to pune and back. |
I do the same, but to save time. Stopping for a bite means losing half an hour at least. And a half hour on the expressway translates into 40kms. Better to stop on the other roads where average speeds are much lesser
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Originally Posted by DeKay The Most shocking thing I discovered was that Bikers are travelling illegally on the Expressway!! |
Read above: They are most likely mechanics.
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Originally Posted by raj_5004 I was coming back from Pune & guess what... I was stuck in a traffic jam inside the tunnel! The cars came to a standstill for a good 20 minutes (luckily). |
Was it this Sunday, 29th Jan? I was there too! Apparently a Honda city was rammed from behind by a Jeep/MUV, followed by another Jeep/MUV, followed by a Tempo Traveller followed by a truck/tanker. Nothing major, but the vehicles must have got a good amount of damage. That's what held up the traffic. Fortunately I was stuck for about five minutes.