Mangalore: The series of road mishaps that have taken place in the recent weeks across the city are indeed staggering and a major cause of worry. The motorcyclists are the major casualties besides pedestrians being hit by speeding trucks and cars.
The motorists are the most worried lot, because the city buses and express buses to Udupi, Karkala, Moodbidri, Kollur, Kundapur and Kasargod are plying in break-neck speed competing to pick up passengers and stop abruptly on the middle of the road or overtake from nowhere. The ghastly accident of a city bus hitting an electric pole at Kalpane near Kulshekar here on Saturday March 30 evening was so horrific that it killed the driver instantly. The road mishaps occur in greater numbers especially during summer, as the scorching heat strains motorists.
The motorcyclists who have scant regards for traffic rules and are always in a hurry overtake from anywhere they like resulting in major tragedies. The state-run buses driven by fatigued drivers due to overworking are also involved in several road mishaps. The trucks and trailers transporting goods, building materials and automobiles from across the country are involved in road mishaps on national highways that pass through the city. The ongoing four-lane conversion works on National Highways also contributes for road mishaps especially during the nights.
The availability of cars on easy installments has already cluttered the city with wide range of cars including imported Jaguar, Hummer, Audi, Lexus, Range Rover, BMW, Mercedes, and high end Indian cars. A few youngsters with new found wealth are flashing their cars and go on adventurous rides on city roads and get involved in road mishaps resulting in loss of limbs and innocent lives. The sleepy town has become hub of tourism with easy access to rail, air and sea in the recent past. It’s an irony that road rage also contributes for road mishaps as intolerance levels are rising among the motorists to dangerously overtake and survive in near-miss collision.
The unscientific road works at a few stretches of National Highway from Kundapur – Mangalore– Bantwal are also causing road mishaps by the long hauling truck drivers, who are unaware of road conditions ahead. Several motorcyclists have also lost lives in ghastly accidents mainly because of the substandard helmets they use just to hoodwink the traffic cops. The cops are doing their best at all times despite long duty hours to oversee smooth traffic within their limits although they are exposed to dust and smoke. There are also instances of young drivers high on adrenalin causing accidents by being careless causing serious injuries and even deaths. The youngsters inspired by stunts in movie go for rides during the wee hours on deserted streets just for the heck of thrill.
There is an urgent need to give a serious thought to the soaring graph of road accidents. The authorities as well as the representatives of the public have to sit together and discuss ways and means to curb and prevent accidents that leave many families shattered.
