Road accidents claim 3,500 lives every single day, and leave thousands of others disabled, according to a WHO report. With over a lakh deaths annually, India has now overtaken China. Apart from the fatalities they cause, road accidents have several other dimensions,

including the psychological, social and emotional, not to speak of the financial.

Accidents are generally classified under certain categories. For instance, a single vehicle accident in which the vehicle either collides with fixed objects or with pedestrians or falls into a pit or multiple vehicle accidents in which two or more than two vehicles can either collide head–on, or one vehicle may collide with the front vehicle at the back or may have a side-swipe type collision. The sharp increase in road accidents is closely linked with the rapid growth of population, lifestyle changes, a burgeoning middle class, industrialization and motorization, among other factors. It continues to be a growing concern to all those who use the roads.

Viewed against this backdrop, steadily, but surely, the streets of Hyderabad are witnessing more and more road deaths. The toll of accidents in the last five to eight months equals the number that occurred in a whole decade.

Traffic cops attribute the rise in accidents to more instances of drinking and driving, overspeeding and dangerous driving

There are many causes of accidents on the road. Lack of experience and licensing older drivers are among two factors, for example, that cause an escalation in the accident rate. Nowadays, people can obtain a driving license easily. Actually, people who want to obtain a license must have experience and should be thoroughly aware of the rules of the road. One finds a large number of Inexperienced drivers on the streets, many of whom are responsible for accidents on the road.

Absence of street lights and speeding heavy vehicles have turned the ORR stretch (i.e Gachibowli to Shamshabad airport at APPA ) into a deathtrap during the day. It is much worse at night, especially for two-wheeler riders.

Residents and traffic police officials blame speeding heavy vehicles for the increasing number of mishaps. Trucks that travel from surrounding districts use the service road which was earlier recognized as part of the Bangalore highway

Lack of ample lighting is another major reason, point out bikers. "The lighting on the road beyond the flyover to the airport is not adequate. To top it, two wheelers and autowalas are blinded by lights of heavy vehicles coming from the opposite direction at the service lane."

ORR is a fast-track facility to ensure smooth and safe driving. Unfortunately, it has become a racing track, thanks to the indifference of the authorities, as well. One of the possible solutions is to educate bikers and drivers alike on highway driving. The ORR should not become a gateway to hell even for the odd biker or car driver.

Bhargavi@sakshipost