Hyderabad: As the winter brings in dense fog, authorities are warning drivers to stay cautious, especially on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and surrounding sub-roads connecting key municipalities such as Keesara, Shamirpet, Yadgarpalle, Jawaharnagar, Dammaiguda and Ghatkesar including the Warangal Highway. The combination of fog, poor road visibility, and lack of proper signage could cause accidents during this period, stated the officials.
According to sub-inspector Venkatesh from the Keesara police station, "Sections such as Exits 7 to 8 and 8 to 9 fall under the Keesara limits covering a stretch of 10 to 15 kilometres. The road to Yadgarpally is especially prone to accidents due to the sharp turns and poorly-illuminated stretches making it harder for drivers to travel or commute safely."
When an accident occurs the Road Safety Wing has to take up inspection of the crime spot and come up with a resolution. However, the execution gets slowed down as the ORR and subroads fall under different police station limits and municipalities.
"Dense fog severely reduces visibility, particularly during early morning hours when commuters are most vulnerable. On roads like the ORR and those connecting towns, the absence of proper signboards and inadequate street lighting only exacerbate the risks. After the inspection, RSW prepares a report with all the findings and delivers it to respective stakeholders requesting action. However, this action is being implemented slowly," he said.
The RSW teams in collaboration with the local panchayat, law and order, and traffic police, investigate accidents and send their findings to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department. This is done to improve road safety by addressing the infrastructure issues like better signage, improved lighting, and regular fog-related warnings who further come up with solutions and execute necessary changes."
"The drivers must reduce speed and maintain a safe distance between vehicles during foggy conditions. Fog lights should be used when necessary, and drivers should remain extra vigilant, particularly around curves and intersections. One should also not drive under drowsiness, as fatigue can further differ in judgment and reaction times," he added.
Ghatkesar station house officer Parashuram said this is the season when most accidents occur due to fog en route to Warangal. For a couple more months, people must drive at limited speeds to avoid ramming into any vehicle.
