The state has suggested to the Centre to make agencies or contractors concerned accountable for deaths caused due to potholes on roads. Hitherto, such deaths were attributed to negligent driving/riding. If considered, the Motor Vehicles Act will be amended to include this provision and the contractors or the BBMP can be booked
BENGALURU: Potholes are not meant to be on the roads. Despite that, several deaths that have occurred (almost all two-wheeler riders) due to the presence of potholes on roads have been passed off as mere road accidents due to the negligence on the part of the motorists. In doing so, the main culprit, which is the agency responsible to ensure that potholes do not exist on the roads, is able to go scot-free.
The state government has finally taken cognisance of this fact. Now, fixing the responsibility on the authorities concerned for any accidents/injuries/deaths due to bad stretch (read potholes) is on the cards. The state government has suggested to the Centre to include a provision in the Motor Vehicles (Amendment Bill) Act to hold the civic agency concerned responsible in case of accidents/injuries/deaths due to potholes on roads. The Union government had sought suggestions from the state police while amending the existing Motor Vehicles Act.
NO PROPER DATA
Potholes are clearly the hidden villains. To any eyewitness to an accident -- and even to traffic police, for that matter -- the first impression is that the drivers’ negligence has caused the accident.
Imagine, when traffic is moving at, say, 40 kmph and a two-wheeler rider suddenly spots a pothole appearing from under the moving vehicle ahead, the first reaction of the rider is to try and avoid it to prevent himself and his pillion from falling.But, in doing so, there is every likelihood that the rider will come in the way of speeding vehicles on either sides.Most deaths due to potholes on the roads have occurred this way; and sadly the blame is placed on the deceased/injured for negligent riding.
According to D Roopa, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Commissioner for Traffic and Road Safety, “There is no proper data for accidents due to potholes. When someone meets with an accident due to a pothole or an unscientific hump, it is either registered as irresponsible driving or accidents due to over-speeding. Neither victims/family members nor police will register a case as ‘accident due to potholes or unscientific humps’.”
MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE
Roopa said, “The persons responsible from the (road) construction agency (who are given the contract) should be made criminally liable. They could be the contractors or the one who is maintaining the road. It could be Public Works Department (PWD) for highways, or local bodies like the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Bengaluru.’’
WHAT IS THE PROPOSAL?
To hold the civic agency or their contractors responsible for deaths/injuries/accidents caused due to potholes on the roads. Most such deaths are passed off as those caused due to negligence on the part of drivers/riders.
