Govt to install reflectors on road dividers to reduce accidents

Kolkata: The state government will install reflectors on road dividers to prevent accidents at night, under the Safe Drive Save Life programme.

The step has been taken after it was found that the incidents of drivers hitting the road dividers have gone up both on the city roads and on highways in recent times.

The work to install reflectors between Gol Park and Dhakuria has already started. Senior police officers said during night, particularly when it rains heavily, drivers often fail to spot the dividers and hit them. In areas where there are small road dividers, drivers mount them after failing to negotiate lanes.

The reflectors will be seen from more than 50 feet away, even during rainy nights. The officers said because of intense vigil at night and installation of guard walls, the number of road accidents at night has gone down considerably. They hope that the installation of reflectors will be of great help to the drivers.

Police all over the state will distribute Safe Drive Save Life stickers free of cost to the drivers to install them on the steering. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took the decision after a police car met with a road accident. The police officers said the sticker on the steering will work as a caution to the drivers.

The state Transport department has left no stones unturned to reduce the number of road accidents and train drivers to pick up proper driving skills.