Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 6: Six people, including four specially-abled children, a teacher and the driver, had a close shave after a container truck rammed into their school taxi near Pavanje Junction, close to Haleyangadi, on Thursday November 5. The impact left the rear portion of the taxi badly mangled, but all six occupants escaped without injuries.
The taxi jeep was ferrying specially-abled children from Haleyangadi towards Surathkal when the accident occurred near the barricades installed at Pavanje Junction to prevent road mishaps.
According to reports, the taxi driver attempted to overtake a container truck from the left side near the junction. The container was proceeding towards Mangaluru when it collided with the taxi during the risky manoeuvre.
The force of the collision caused extensive damage to the rear portion of the taxi, which was carrying the four children to school along with a teacher. Despite the severity of the impact, all the occupants escaped unhurt, bringing a huge sense of relief.
The accident briefly disrupted traffic on the highway, leaving motorists facing delays. Local auto-rickshaw drivers and personnel from the Mangaluru North Traffic police rushed to the spot and inspected the scene. The damaged taxi and container truck were subsequently cleared from the road, helping restore normal traffic movement.
Left-side overtaking near barricades raises safety concerns
The accident has once again brought the spotlight on the recurring problem of dangerous overtaking at accident-prone junctions along National Highway 66.
Barricades have been installed at vulnerable junctions along the highway to regulate vehicle speeds and prevent collisions. However, despite these precautionary measures, some motorists continue to attempt risky manoeuvres to get past heavy vehicles.
Local social activist Dharmananda Shettigar pointed out that drivers of smaller vehicles often attempt to squeeze through from the left side of heavy vehicles at stretches where barricades have been installed. Such attempts to overtake from the left, particularly near barricaded junctions, have reportedly led to several accidents.
He expressed concern over the recurring trend, highlighting how motorists attempting to force their way past heavy vehicles in restricted spaces are putting themselves and other road users at risk.
Thursday's accident, involving a vehicle carrying specially-abled schoolchildren, has once again underscored the dangers of reckless overtaking at vulnerable stretches of National Highway 66.
While the six occupants were fortunate to escape without injuries, the incident serves as another reminder of the need for motorists to exercise caution and follow traffic regulations, particularly near barricaded junctions.