Zebra Crossings: ‘Faded’ or ‘Missing’ on Mulund’s roads
The Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) recently celebrated 30th Road Safety Week – 2019, an annual awareness programme educating motorists and pedestrians regarding safety measures and rules and regulations to obey to avoid accidents on roads. Though MTP patted itself at the success of the Road Safety Week event, Home Times, in its survey, detected some inadequacies of RTO behind accidents in Mulund. In its exclusive survey, Home Times found Zebra Crossings ‘faded’ or ‘missing’ at many roads in Mulund! What is most shocking is that Zebra Crossings have been found missing outside many schools where they are mandatory as they safeguard the lives of school children!
Zebra Crossing means ‘white painted stripes’ on road, signalling that vehicles must stop and allow pedestrians to cross. However, at many roads, the colour of the Zebra Crossing has faded so much that it almost invisible. Hence, pedestrians have to risk their lives to cross the road. Secondly, it was found that the roads where the Zebra Crossing is visible are intruded by errant motorists. Hence, poor pedestrians have to dodge the vehicles, hopping and jumping, fearing the signal does not go ‘Green’! In short, with the growing number of vehicles in Mulund, the problem of crossing roads by pedestrians has become a serious issue.
Zebra Crossing is a ‘must’ near a school but, tragically, in its survey Home Times found that there is no Zebra Crossing outside many schools in Mulund. For instance, the BMC School on P.K. Road near Kalidas Hall. Similarly, there is no Zebra Crossing outside BMC School on Goshala Road and near the signal at LBS Marg. The few Zebra Crossings that are made have become so faded that they are invisible.
An angry parent said, “A Zebra Crossing is mandatory outside schools. However, in Mulund, Zebra Crossings are absent or have become dull outside many schools. This is quite dangerous for not only the students but even their parents who come to pick and drop them. For example, outside Vidyaben Gardi School on P.K. Road, there is no Zebra Crossing.” He added, “Likewise, the yellow coloured strips on the speed breakers are also invisible outside many schools in Mulund like the one outside Sau Laxmibai School in Mulund East.”
A motorist, Ramesh, lamented, “Nowadays, the Zebra Crossing is not visible. Due to the absence of the Zebra Crossing, both pedestrians and the motorists face problems. When the RTO paints the Zebra Crossing then we come to know about them from a long distance and, accordingly, we slow down. However, in case of faded Zebra Crossings, we accidentally jump over such Zebra Crossings.”
Another motorist said, “We have noted that some pedestrians do not follow the rules of traffic signal and daringly intrude onto the middle of the roads. Hence, drivers are caught in a dilemma and this result in accidents. Therefore, it is imperative that pedestrians should have patience and cross as per the signals. Secondly, RTO must immediately paint both the Zebra Crossing and the Speed breakers at the earliest.”
Halting a vehicle at a zebra crossing is a punishable offence with a fine of Rs.200 only. These zebra crossings are meant for pedestrians to cross the road. If these stripes become faded then the Traffic Department will inform BMC T-Ward to take corrective action.
– Sharad Ovhal Sr.PI, Traffic Police Department
RTO Rule
When the signal turns ‘Red’, motorists have to stop behind a yellow coloured strip marked on the road. In front of the yellow strip is marked the Zebra Crossing, which is exclusively meant for pedestrians to walk on till the signal turns ‘Green’.
Violation of the rule
It is generally found that motorists cross the yellow strip and jump over the Zebra Crossing. Though RTO penalises such errant motorists, yet motorists learn no lessons from their mistakes
