Unsafe speed breakers in Coimbatore
The Coimbatore Consumer Cause has sought to draw the attention of the district administration to unsafe speed breakers.In a letter to Collector Neeraj Mittal, the consumer body's secretary, K. Kathirmathiyon, has said: "It has come to our notice that in some of the places on the highways, speed breakers have been provided without any specification and without any norms."Earlier, the speed breakers were provided wherever necessary for the safety of the public. But some years ago, when the Government found that many accidents took place only because of speed breakers, it imposed a ban on providing these on the highways.Recently, the Government took a decision that the speed breakers could be provided on highways wherever absolutely necessary. But, there should be provided only as per some specifications. No speed breaker should be laid on National Highways stretches, the letter pointed out.The District Road Safety Council had decided at a meeting that only it would approve of places where the speed breakers could be laid. This was aimed at preventing unnecessary ones from coming up. Since the panel consisted of technical personnel from the departments of Highways, Transport and Police, a proper decision could be taken regarding the necessity for a speed breaker. Further, the provision of speed breakers as per the specifications and norms of the Government could be ensured, the letter explained.
Mr. Kathirmathiyon said that on April 26 a number of speed breakers were found to have suddenly been laid on the a highway in front of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. These speed breakers did not have any of the specifications prescribed by the Government.Even people sitting inside buses were inconvenienced by the "abnormal" speed breakers. The plight of those using two-wheelers and cars was worse. When the matter was referred to the Highways Department, they were not aware of these speed breakers. But the officials promised to remove the "extra, unsafe" speed-breakers and did so immediately.
