Mumbai:
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Watchout: Traffic police will post the dummies at strategic 'speeding spots' on the EEH today. There have been 200 speed-related accidents this month, which saw six deaths. Imaging/ Sameer Pawar |
Take the Eastern Express Highway. Add one part of rain, two parts of mastic asphalt, throw in some mud and a couple of oil slicks. To the concoction add a vehicle driving above 60 kmph.
What you get is 200 accidents, which include six deaths and 12 grievous injuries all in this month. In fact, on two consecutive days last week, 93 drivers were held for speeding.
To counter this, an exasperated traffic police has come up with an ingenious idea post dummy traffic cops at strategic locations on the EEH.
In other words, there will be all-weather cut-outs of cops two officers and two constables holding a cut-out speed gun propped up next to a dummy police van.
50 kmphSpeed limit on EEH flyovers
'Real cops will also be present'
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The slippery road on the Eastern Express Highway is the cause of many accidents. FILE PIC |
The life-size props will be stationed at two strategic 'speeding points' on the highway.
Sanjay Barve, joint commissioner of police (Traffic), said, "After gauging the success of this move, we will set them up at other places too. Our main purpose is to see that lives are not lost." Added Harish Baijal, traffic DCP (City), "Don't be under the impression, that the highway will only be manned by dummy cops. Real cops will also be present."
Another reason for the dummy move, sources say, is because the department is short of traffic cops. As of now there are 12 vehicles that patrol the entire stretch of the EEH.
Meanwhile, commuters are amused, but happy at the move.
Omar Khan (23) who regularly travels from Bandra to Nariman Point, said, "Most of the accidents happen because of rash and drunk driving and wet, slippery roads. Frankly, if you're drunk, you'll never be able to make out the difference between a dummy and a real cop. It will definitely stop speed demons." Khan, however, believes that the cut-outs have to be very good to be effective. Rahul Sawant, who rides his bike on this road, said the move could actually reduce speed-related accidents.
Sudhir Badami, a transport expert, appreciated the planning. "A traffic cop, standing at the signal doing nothing, is good enough to ensure people don't jump the signal. Similarly, a cut-out is enough to put fear into speeding drivers," he said.
EEH now Traffic police and motorists have blamed the 200 accidents on the Eastern Express Highway on the use of mastic asphalt. The product ensured there were no potholes, but it also made the roads dangerously slippery.
The police have now closed a section of the road and the MMRDA has asked labourers to chip off the surface and spread rubble to add friction.
Yet accidents continued. So, last week, the traffic cops conducted a special drive with a newly-acquired Rs 9 lakh speed gun and nailed 93 offenders.
