Sir,

This refers to the front page news item titled “New Year mishap: Two BBA students killed in wee hours as bike collides with SUV” (SOM dated Jan. 1). Despite strong warnings by the Police, youngsters go overboard and end up in graves; mindlessly.

Generally speaking, partying and driving during ‘wee hours’ is ill-advised as fatigue tells upon drivers unless they have compelled themselves to uninterrupted sleep during day time — normally practised by professional drivers.

Year on year, precious lives are lost. Youngsters seldom realise that irresponsible acts ending in grievous injuries or deaths leave behind scars on the parents. Many times parents are unable to come out of such shocks.

Well, accidents on Bengaluru – Mysuru Highway have come down, by and large, thanks to the Government waking up and imposing a speed limit of 100 kms per hour (even now many clip at over 130).

Reading about a collision from behind killing two youths reads ridiculous. At 100 kmph, vehicles on the hind-side need to maintain a minimum of 40 feet for safety; technically termed “safe braking distance.”

Similar phrase called “safe overtaking distance” is also vital for safety. We have many idiotic drivers who exhibit expertise in squeezing between lanes; mindless of distances between an overtaken vehicle and the one ahead; causing shock-waves in drivers. I have experienced this every time I am on this Expressway.

Now, the question is: “Why are traffic lights switched off at all?” especially during such times when drivers drive in madness. Why not the traffic lights be ON all through the night, always, so that drivers are obligated and CCTV footage is conclusive?

In many ‘underdeveloped countries’ traffic lights are always on. If one were to go by the assumption that blinking amber lights are enough to caution our drivers, they are foolhardy to say the least.

It is desirable to have conclusive tools to trap the guilty. In the USA, for instance, a vehicle hitting from behind is held guilty by law and penalised; no arguments, no court cases.

— V.N. Prasad, retired Civil Engineer, Mysuru, 2.1.2024

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