VNIT study lists 4 major factors for mishaps on Samruddhi Mahamarg
| Date :24-Apr-2023 |
By Rutu Borkar
Tyre burst, lane-changing, monotonous driving and animal crossing are the four major reasons causing fatal accidents on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Of the four prime reasons, three pertain to non-complaince of driving rules on part of drivers while using the state of the art expressway, leaving a question mark on the mentality of the users. These findings came forth after a recent study conducted by four students of Visvesvaraya National Institute Of Technology (VNIT).
The study found that driving on Samruddhi Mahamarg during night is far more safer than travelling during the day time. The time between morning 8 am and 10 am was found to be most risky for drivers as drivers tried to fight fatigue and also adjust themselves to the sunlight. In the ongoing study, it began in December 2022 and now in its last stages, the rate of accidents on Samruddhi Mahamarg is on average eight per day. There is high probability that the mishaps number are likely to increase once the entire stretch of the Samruddhi Mahamarg is completed and operational for the general public. Till now, 900 accidents have been reported on Samruddhi Mahamarg in a period of four months in which 112 were injured, they sustained critical injuries and required hospitalisation for more than 24 hours. Male drivers in the age gap of 40 to 55 years were mostly found driving the vehicles during these accidents.
Prof Vishrut Landge of Department of Civil Engineering sharing the details of the study with The Hitavada, said, urban or city driving is very different than driving on highways. Regular or city drivers are not accustomed to driving on the highways. And there is no guidance available as such for first time users of expressway. City drivers just speed their vehicles on highways without knowing or understanding the precautionary measures that are needed to be taken on highways. After detailed study, the first year M.Tech students of Transportation and Engineering - Prajwal Madghe, Ayush Dudhbhawre, Prateek Gajallewar and Vinay Rajput suggested several measures that needs to be undertaken for reducing the accidents on Samruddhi Mahamarg.
Filling nitrogen in tyres instead of regular air can help drivers negotiate the highway safely and avoid tyre bust. Nitrogen does not expand and hence it helps avoid bursting of tyres on high speeds. This is more advantageous during the summer season when surface temperature too tends to increase and especially driving at full speed also increases the friction. Thus use of nitrogen can help in minimising the wear and tear of the rubber, they explained.
While changing the lane or avoiding an animal, the driver gets a meager 0.8 seconds time to react and make quick decision to avoid collision. Monkeys are a major concern, since they tend to jump over the side barricades and come directly on the carriageway. Re-evaluating all animal crossings, speed camera monitoring, sign-boards and precautionary videos at or before toll plazas can help the drivers safely negotiating the expressway. Monotonous driving is emerging a major area of concern while driving on Samruddhi Mahamarg since drivers for a long stretch drive at high speed without any interference. Rest and service areas, green parks and variable sign boards to engage the drivers mind are some of the suggestion mentioned by the students for authorities in their study.