Chennai: Walking down the killer lane

CHENNAI: Being a pedestrian is perhaps the biggest curse in Chennai, if one were to go by the figures released by the Chennai City Traffic Police pertaining to road accident deaths. Pedestrians in the city account for 38 per cent of the total number of road accident deaths recorded in the city in 2011. In other words, the total number of pedestrians who died in 2011 in the city stands at 551. Police sources say that among pedestrians who die from accidents, a maximum number of them are in the  age group of 50 and above. The reason for this, they say, is that these elderly pedestrians are not only involved in jaywalking, but also have poor reflexes. “Youngsters also jaywalk, but at the same time, they have faster reflexes,” says a senior police official.Traffic cops point out that most accidents that involve pedestrians take place during the evening hours between 5 and 10 pm. The primary reason is that motorists are often tired after the day’s work and are restless to get back home. Dazzling headlights, with strong and high beams, are the other reasons behind such accidents.Investigations into pedestrian deaths involve the same procedure as in the case of other road accidents, such as reconstructing the accident scene and intense analysis of the reason behind the accident. “The reason why an accident takes place, whether the person driving the vehicle was under stress or had poor knowledge of traffic rules, or if he was driving under the influence of alcohol, are all taken into account. The speed zone is also considered and it varies with the size of the vehicle,” explains Sanjay Arora, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Greater Chennai City. The reasons behind such accidents have to be finalised by the police, sources add. But is there a way to prevent such pedestrian accidents? Police say that the people need an attitudinal  change. “What if a person who thinks it is right to cross the roads by jumping the median becomes a policeman one day? He might not stop people from jumping across medians. You cannot change such an attitude,” a police official says.