3-strip Speed Breaker Removed
Past midnight on Sunday, the city police removed the three-strip speed breaker on Cowley Brown Road that had been causing inconvenience to vehicle users because of being located too close to the signal at a busy traffic junction. The police also decided that this spot would not have a speed breaker hereafter.City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali told The Hindu on Monday that he made an on-the-spot study of the problem following complaints from the public. “We decided not to have a speed breaker at this spot because the automatic signal itself is enough to regulate traffic,” he said.Repairs to the traffic signal were being carried out by technicians from a Mumbai-based company that had installed automatic signals in many parts of the city. The Commissioner explained that there was a problem with the computer chip in the signal and this had led to its malfunctioning. Faulty bulbs would also be replaced. The signal timings were programmed in the chip on the basis of a study of the traffic flow from four directions at the junction. The re-programming of the chip and re-installation in the signal was done on Monday, he said.
Tree branches that prevented a clear view of the signal for drivers would be cut. Smooth flow of traffic would be ensured at this point, he said. The Commissioner refuted charges of speed breakers being laid without consultation with other agencies concerned. Every component of the micro-level traffic management plan was implemented with due consultations, he contended. “Apart from thorough discussions with my Deputy Commissioners and other officers, we involve the engineers of the National and State Highways and also from the Coimbatore Corporation.
Even the views of the local councillor of the Corporation are sought,” he said.“Speed breakers are being laid only after a thorough study of the traffic pattern,” he said. Admitting that some speed breakers had exceeded the size specifications and thereby caused problems to vehicle users, he said: “We will rectify problems. This is a continuous process to bring down the number of accidents, especially the fatal ones. Our ultimate aim is to provide a defect-free accident prevention system on the city roads. Till such time, the people should bear with us.”
And, even during this period, the police would work to avoid inconvenience to road users. Proper lighting would be provided at speed breakers and these would also be given a coat of white paint to ensure proper visibility.
