Shortcuts can turn fatal

The moveable yellow steel barricades placed by the Bangalore Traffic Police on the main roads, especially in the Central Business District areas, for the safety of road users often end up causing fatal accidents.

In order to take a shortcut, most people cross the road after dislodging these barricades. In an effort to prevent people from moving these barricades, the Bangalore Traffic Police will soon replace them with mozzo barricades wherein the barricades are interlinked and cannot be separated from each other.

Confirming this to Metrolife, additional commissioner of police (traffic) B Dayananda said that these barricades will be stationed at prominent junctions across the City. The mozzo barricades have worked very well for the Mumbai police in streamlining and managing traffic. This has prompted the Bangalore traffic police to use the same in the City.

B Dayananda informs, “Mozzo barricades will at first be placed at important junctions and will be used for road diversion and during processions. The exorbitant cost is what is preventing us from buying them in bulk. But eventually, we hope to find a solution to replace the existing temporary barricades.”

He concedes that he has noticed people removing these barricades and crossing the roads.

   “There’s no doubt that such crossings will cause accidents. We will certainly look into this issue and address it at the earliest,” he adds.

It is indifference and the lack of respect for basic road rules that prompts people to dislodge barricades and cross the road.

Motorists find this act ‘exasperating’ and point out that they tend to lose control of the vehicle when a person crosses suddenly.

Afdal Yoosuf, a professional with RCKR Software Pvt Ltd, notes that those who remove barricades to cross the road cause a lot of trouble to motorists. “I think people choose such shortcuts due to the lack of zebra and overhead crossings. The pedestrian subways in the City are filthy and unsafe,” he says. Afdal also feels that pedestrians who violate rules must be fined when caught in such situations. 

Neema, an engineering student, thinks it’s high time the traffic police did away with temporary barricades and found a permanent solution to this problem.

   “People who cross the road in this fashion must be fined on the spot. The police must do away with these barricades and find something more workable. The barricades that are there now have their disadvantages,” she says.

Sagar Datta points out that not all barricades are placed where they are absolutely necessary.

“I’ve seen people trying to move these barricades. I think they must also be courteous enough to place it back. They don’t seem to bother to do that, which is also why a lot of accidents happen. This trend of removing barricades must stop,” she sums up.