Shun one-ways

* Vehicle speeds increase causing unsafe road conditions with high probability of accidents.

* Bus commuters have to face inconvenience due to long detours that buses have to take to reach destination.

It is observed that a few weeks back PMC removed road dividers on large sections of JM and FC Road. This has generated highly unsafe road conditions as oneway scheme has not yet been implemented and traffic continues to be two way. It is a common sight to see vehicles taking right turn or U-turn at any location as per will. People too cross the road at any point. Kindly note that it has so far not been possible to implement one way plan as PMC has not yet completed the necessary work for pedestrian facilities and junction modifications.

It is also to be noted that any change of plan is first implemented on a trial basis and made permanent only if the trials are successful. To avoid rework and expenditure for the same,major modifications should be implemented only after successful trials. I t is however necessary that PMC should decide upon a policy in the matter of removal of road dividers. We wish to bring to your notice some important aspects of the matter.

Whenever a road with two-way traffic is made one way,the carriageway width in the one way direction doubles eg. a road with 2 lanes in one direction becomes a 4- lane road after one way is implemented.

One of the major reasons for making roads one way is to reduce the high signal cycle time at road junctions for the purpose of reducing traffic congestion.

With one way roads,the number of signal phases reduces and consequently signal cycle time becomes less. However,the 4 lanes available due to one way may not be necessary for the volume of traffic. An immediate effect is considerable increase in the speed of vehicles. The situation worsens if road dividers are removed. A wide non-segregated 4-lane carriageway virtually becomes a high way for vehicles which move at much higher speeds. There will also be a tendency amongst drivers to change lanes to enter less occupied lanes for faster movement.

This midway lane switching at high speeds results in a dangerous weaving motion of vehicles. Vehicles on one side of the road may also take sudden turn and move right across the road to enter a side lane on the other side. Thus removal of road dividers will lead to extremely poor lane discipline and dangerous criss cross movement of vehicles.

Thus it can be seen that removal of road dividers results in severe traffic problems and highly unsafe road conditions. To overcome the above problems,here are the suggestions in the matter of road dividers on wide one way roads –

* Road divider should be retained except only for a certain minimum length at the beginning of the road to allow for vehicle access to either side and traffic mixing.

* Road dividers should not be removed in intermediate portions of road unless it is absolutely necessary. Such removal should be for a minimum required length only.

* Vehicles wanting to go straight or turn left midway should take the left side of the road. Similarly vehicles wanting to go straight or turn right midway should take the right side of the road. (This will lead to better lane discipline avoiding weaving or criss-crossing movement and also reduced speeds)

* Prominent directional signage should be provided at the beginning of the road itself to enable vehicles to enter the appropriate side of the road

n Removal of road dividers should be the last step to be taken only after all other work related to pedestrian crossings,traffic signal modifications,pedestrian signals,junction modifications etc. has been completed. ,Prashant Inamdar Convenor Pedestrians First