Accident on Bussy Street exposes unsafe traffic environment prevailing for schoolchildren in Puducherry

Monday’s accident on Bussy Street involving an autorickshaw and a private bus in which eight children sustained minor injuries has exposed the unsafe traffic environment prevailing for that the students travelling go to schools due to rampant traffic rule violations by vehicle users on Puducherry roads.

Monday’s accident on Bussy Street involving an autorickshaw and a private bus in which eight children sustained minor injuries has exposed the unsafe traffic environment prevailing for the students travelling to schools due to rampant traffic rule violations by vehicle users on Puducherry roads.

The particular accident was avoidable if drivers of both the vehicles had followed traffic discipline. Law enforcers have blamed the drivers of the private stage carrier and the autorickshaw for the accident.

While the stage carrier violated one-way rule, the auto driver made a reckless turn while talking to the children sitting behind his seat. The autorickshaw was also overcrowded. The police have now arrested the bus driver and listed the autorickshaw driver as second accused in the accident case.

The traffic violations by private bus operators are nothing new on the roads of Puducherry. Lane violations, over-speeding, overtaking in a dangerous manner and reckless driving by the drivers of private buses are a common site in the town and along the stretches towards neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu.

“In the morning hours, the private buses have a field day. They drive the buses carelessly and stop the vehicle wherever they want as the presence of police was limited. The drivers ply on certain stretches in the town, especially at Muthialpet, Lawspet, and Uppalam area during morning hours in a reckless manner,” said a shop owner on Mission Street. 

Even after several accidents involving stage carriers in Reddiyarapalayam area and Cuddalore route, the private buses continue to operate their fleets in a dangerous manner during morning hours, said S. Ratheesh, a resident of Moolakulam.

“Only stringent enforcement of road rules will deter the drivers from indulging in reckless driving. In the interest of public, the traffic police should wake up to make the roads safer,” he added.