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Journalism of Courage
The Delhi Traffic Police kicked off a pedestrian safety week on Monday and insists the emphasis is more on educating than prosecuting this time. However,when Sobhana K checked at five traffic spots,she found the traffic policemen were mute spectators to violations at some points,and at others pedestrians did not know what rules to follow
Krishi Bhavan
With several government offices located here,peak hours see heavy pedestrian movement. Ongoing work on the Metro has left little space for pedestrians. And while pedestrian safety week hoardings have been put up,and a haggard traffic cop occasionally does herd pedestrians towards the footpath,they continue to cross the road miles away from the zebra crossing. This might have something to do with vehicles standing on the zebra crossing. May be these drives will help in disciplining a small percentage of the people, Sunder Rajan,a government servant,says seconds before he himself darts across the road,away from the zebra crossing.
India Gate
The traffic police have put up lights at the India Gate roundabout to facilitate pedestrians. Pelican Signals have also been provided to ensure pedestrians have the freedom to press a button and stop vehicles and cross. However,neither were the pedestrians aware of the Pelican Signals,nor were they working. There is ample deployment of traffic police constables at each road cutting off from India Gate. However,none of them were seen informing pedestrians or motorists about the safety week.
INA Market
With Delhi Haat on one side and the INA Market on the other,this stretch sees a constant flow of pedestrians. The subway is at some distance from the bus stand,and those who can manage jump the railing for a shortcut across the road. The not-so-adventurous just squeeze through the iron railing. Women,meanwhile,look for a gap in the railing to cross the road. There was no traffic officer or board to inform the pedestrians about the perils of jumping across. Why have a pedestrian week when they cannot even have facilities for pedestrians? What is the use of building a subway nearly half-a-km away from the bus stand? Jency Mathews,a nurse at AIIMS,said.
Satya Niketan
Traffic experts have insisted that all pedestrian crossings be made at road-level,as pedestrians usually shun raised or underground crossings. The footover bridge at Satya Niketan is one example. Despite an escalator and a ramp,pedestrians dart across the busy Ring Road,avoiding the bridge altogether. Surprisingly,two traffic constables standing right across the road did not have any words on pedestrian safety for them.
Delhi Gate
I have been telling pedestrians to stick to the zebra crossing and to cross only when the pedestrian light turns green, a traffic constable at Delhi Gate said. Interestingly,there was neither a zebra crossing here nor a traffic light for pedestrians. The pedestrians,who run across the width of the road,include several old and invalid persons visiting Lok Nayak Hospital. So the traffic constable merely nudges the vehicles into standing back a little.
Accidents
Total accidents in 2008
2,088
Number of pedestrian deaths in 2008
1,075
Total persons killed till May 15,2009
781
Total pedestrian deaths till May 15
398
The pedestrian safety drive is implemented between 8 am and 12 pm,and 5 and 9 pm. The traffic police are concentrating on 589 intersections and 116 mid-sections.
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