By Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 18: The Mangaluru-Bengaluru highway has become a hotspot for traffic violations and lacks essential facilities, posing serious risks of accidents that often go unnoticed.

Several areas along the stretch from Kannur to BC Road lack proper streetlights, leaving sections of the road in complete darkness. This creates significant challenges for motorists, making it particularly difficult to spot pedestrians crossing the poorly lit areas.

In addition to the unlit junctions, the absence of streetlights on stretches between junctions increases the danger for road users. Compounding this issue is the growing practice of driving or riding on the wrong side of the road, which has become alarmingly common in areas such as Valachil, Farangipete, Maripalla, Thumbay, Ramalkatte, and Kaikamba.

Motorists often resort to wrong-side driving to avoid lengthy detours, as the distance to U-turn points can extend over a kilometer. This dangerous behavior, especially during the night, becomes even riskier because of the inability to predict oncoming traffic from the opposite direction.

On the night of January 14, a tragic accident occurred at Ramalkatte, resulting in the death of a 13-year-old girl. The accident was caused by a two-wheeler riding on the wrong side. Notably, the accident spot was dark due to the lack of streetlights along the highway, underscoring the hazards of this stretch.

The police must take stringent action against traffic violators, and the concerned authorities must urgently install streetlights to mitigate accidents. The issue demands immediate attention to enhance road safety.