The issue of unscientific and haphazard speed-breakers in Mumbai is a serious problem that needs urgent attention. This newspaper’s campaign against these dangerous roadblocks in collaboration with the Mumbai North Central District Forum is a welcome step in the right direction. It is a well-known fact that speed-breakers are intended to slow down vehicles, especially in areas where pedestrians are present.
However, the indiscriminate placement of speed-breakers in Mumbai has become a major concern for both drivers and pedestrians, causing serious accidents. The problem is that they are not standardised. They are constructed in a haphazard manner, without any regard for the safety of the road users. They are either too high or too steep or have uneven surfaces that can damage vehicles and cause drivers to lose control. They are nothing but car and two-wheeler breakers.
The need of the hour is to have standard speed-breakers that are scientifically designed to ensure the safety of all road users. They should be constructed after taking into account the traffic flow, the speed limit of the area and the safety of pedestrians. The standard speed-breaker design, already available and approved by the Indian Roads Congress, will ensure that they are visible, have a gradual incline, and are not too high. The prevalent laissez-faire approach to speed-breaker construction is not acceptable.
The government and the civic authorities must take responsibility for ensuring that all speed-breakers are constructed as per the prescribed standards. This will not only prevent accidents but also save lives. Not just Mumbai, this is true for other cities also. The initiative in Mumbai needs to be replicated in other cities and states so that it becomes a national campaign.
Unsafe & Unmarked Speed Breakers Turn Mumbai Roads Into Deathtrap
Beginning June 13, 2023, the Free Press Journal, in collaboration with Mumbai North Central District Forum, is launching a campaign against illegal and unmarked speed breakers with the support of Roads of Mumbai and Mumbai Matterz. You can send pictures with captions of such speed breakers in your area, giving the exact location along with your name, address and mobile numbers to fpjreaderreporter@gmail.com. You can also tweet pictures at Twitter handles @fpjindia, @MNCDFBombay, @RoadsofMumbai and @MumbaiMatterz.
(To receive our E-paper on WhatsApp daily, please click here. To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)
