Thiruvananthapuram: The motor vehicle department has issued cautionary instructions in the face of increasing incidents of morning commuters dying in road accidents.
The MVD asked morning walkers to opt for white or light-colored clothing and avoid black clothing altogether.
The ride can also be done in the morning light. Choose fields or parks for walking whenever possible.
Choose roads that are lighted and have footpaths. The MVD also demanded that roads with high speed and congestion should be completely avoided.
MVD’s announcement was through a social media post-
Safe and good practice
Morning walks have become part of our habits for a long time. We Malayalis are not behind when it comes to understanding the importance of health care and adopting good habits after the closed covid period.
In recent times, the number of people who go for morning walks as a part of health care is very high.
It is a sad fact that 32,825 pedestrians were killed in India in 2022 alone, after two-wheelers, pedestrians are the second leading cause of death.
The recent incident in which 2 persons were killed in Thiruvananthapuram calls for our urgent attention.
Accidents often occur due to many reasons such as limited footpaths, curvy and poorly lit roads and our ignorance about pedestrian safety.
Pedestrian visibility at night is a complex phenomenon. A driver can avoid an accident only by seeing the pedestrian relatively far ahead. The driver must see the pedestrian and recognize the impending collision and react by applying the brakes.
Studies show that the reaction time taken by a driver traveling at the maximum permissible speed of 70 km per hour (19.5 meters per second) on normal roads in Kerala to suddenly see a pedestrian and hit the brakes is about 1 to 1.5 seconds.
During this time the vehicle moves 30 m forward and takes another 36 m to come to a complete stop after braking. That means the driver should see the pedestrian at least 66 meters ahead.
Studies show that even on well-lit roads, night vision can only be as close as 30 meters (up to 10 meters on dimly lit roads) and that too if the pedestrian is on the left side of the road. Right-side visibility is further reduced by obstruction of the driver’s right windshield pillar and peripheral vision problems.
Rain, fog, increasing age of the driver, night myopia, sleepiness, fatigue and drug use increase the risk of accidents tenfold.
Also problematic is that drivers may not anticipate pedestrians on rural roads or other areas where they have learned through experience that pedestrians are unlikely to appear.
Another important factor is the color of clothing, the combination of black clothing, lack of light and black road makes it almost impossible to see the morning rider even from close quarters.
These are the things that pedestrians should be aware of. See below for some important things to keep in mind.
?? *Remember these things*
• Rides can also be done in the morning light.
• Choose playgrounds or parks for walking whenever possible.
• Choose roads that are lighted and have footpaths.
• Avoid congested and high speed roads completely.
• If there is no footpath, walk on the right side of the road so that you can see the approaching vehicles.
• Choose white or light colored clothes.
Black clothes should be completely avoided.
• Use reflective jackets or similar clothing if possible.
• When walking along the road on the right side, we should be careful that vehicles may come rushing at us without expecting us at a 90 degree turn.
• Avoid walking while using the phone and listening to music using earphones.
• Extra care should be taken if children are present.
• Avoid walking in groups by telling news on the road.
While walking on the right side of the road, we need to be especially careful for a vehicle that unexpectedly rushes at us in a 90 degree turn.
• Be aware that drivers cannot see the sides of the road well in fog and rain. Avoid inclement weather if possible.
Poster courtesy: Local news paper
