People for Safe Indian Roads

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Roads without deviders – main reason for head-on collision in India

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Roads without deviders are the main reason for head-on collision in India. A head-on collision is one where the front ends of two vehicles hit each other, as opposed to a side-collision or rear-end collision. Head-on collisions are an often fatal type of road traffic accident.

 

According to U.S. statistics in 2005, head-on crashes were only 2.0% of all crashes, yet accounted for 10.1% of US fatal crashes. In India where road deviders or medians are missing on almist all reads this percentage will be much higher.

Why head on crash are more dangerous?

This is because the relative velocities of vehicles traveling in opposite directions is high. A head-on crash between two vehicles traveling at 50 mph is comparable to a vehicle traveling at 100 mph striking a stationary vehicle.

How to prevent Head on collission

Preventive measures include 

  • Separating opposing lanes of traffic with wide central road deviders or median barriers to prevent crossover incidents. Median barriers are physical barriers between the lanes of traffic, such as concrete barriers.On high speed roads, the severity of a collision with a median barrier is usually lower than the severity of a head-on crash.
  • Traffic signs and road surface markings to help guide drivers through curves

In India if we just have road deviders the casualities of head on collission will drop considerablly.

Here is a road without deviders

road-without-devider-in-india

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is a road with deviders

road-with-devider-in-india

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main reason of low accident rate on a road with deviders is that unlike roads without deviders drivers do not get into opposite lane to overtake.

Any new roads being made – citizens and public employees please ensure that roads have deviders.

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Written by admin

April 29th, 2009 at 6:18 am