Concerns raised over barricades blocking visibility at U-turns in Coimbatore

Concerns have been raised over barricades on Coimbatore city roads that obstruct visibility and pose accident risks.

K. Kathirmathiyon, a member of the District Road Safety Committee, said the issue has been discussed at several Road Safety Committee meetings since June 2022.

“Barricades with full-sheet advertisements are a major concern as they reduce the visibility of vehicles, particularly from the opposite side. Many barricades block sightlines at U-turns, increasing the risk of accidents and violating Indian Road Congress guidelines. The High Court has also prohibited advertisements on barricades. Despite clear instructions from the Road Safety Committee, many new barricades have been installed,” he said.

In most locations, reflective stickers are either missing or only partially provided. During night hours, the barricades are not visible from a distance, forcing motorists to brake suddenly or resulting in collisions. Barricades placed as traffic-calming measures should be painted only with thermoplastic paint and not ordinary paint, he added.

Mr. Kathirmathiyon said road safety measures should not rely on commercial establishments. Traffic signals, barricades, cautionary boards and information signage should be funded and provided by the Government instead of following an advertisement-based model.

Referring to a recent review meeting held in Coimbatore, he said Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chairman of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS), had stated that accident-related deaths are avoidable and that adequate funds must be made available for implementing all necessary road safety measures.

A senior police official said the issue has been noted and steps have been initiated to procure barricades that do not obstruct visibility. Nearly 100 such barricades have recently been placed across the city, and reflective stickers would be properly affixed, the official added.