How MoRTH Plans To Tackle Low Visibility This Winter – News18
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The measures will include foggy weather alerts, highway patrol cars, and repair of damaged road signs, an official statement reads
NHAI, in a statement, said it is committed to taking all necessary steps to mitigate the risk of travelling on national highways during the winter season and ensure a safe and seamless travel experience. (Representational image)
To counter reduced visibility due to foggy conditions on the national highways during the winter season, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Thursday announced that it will take measures to fight low visibility. These will include foggy weather alerts, highway patrol cars, and repair of damaged road signs, an official statement reads.
The NHAI has directed field offices to take proactive mitigation measures to enhance visibility for the safety of national highway users.
“To enhance road safety during foggy conditions, mitigation measures have been classified under two heads of engineering and safety awareness measures,” the statement added.
The engineering measures include reinstalling missing/damaged road signs, rectifying faded or inadequate pavement markings, enhancing the visibility of safety devices by providing reflective markers, median markers, providing transverse bar markings in habitations and accident-prone locations, providing solar blinkers on the median openings and replacement of damaged hazard markers signs at diverging and merging locations.
The safety awareness measures underline incorporating steps to alert highway users of the reduced visibility conditions.
“These measures include use of Variable Message Signs (VMS) or electronic signages to display ‘Foggy Weather Alerts’ and speed limit messages, use of Public Address System warning commuters about driving speed limit of 30 km/hr in foggy areas, use of electronic billboards, radio, and social media for public service announcements as well as distribution of safety awareness pamphlets on Toll Plazas & Wayside Amenities during foggy conditions, installation of reflective tapes on full width of vehicles on the highways,” the statement added.
In addition, NHAI field offices have been directed to undertake night-time highway inspection on a regular basis by a team consisting of NHAI officials, independent engineers, and concessionaire/contractor to assess visibility on the highway and identify locations for installing additional provisions as required.
Also, highway patrol vehicles will be stationed near dense foggy stretches. The highway operation and maintenance team will carry red/green blinking batons to guide traffic in case of an accident and establish seamless collaboration with local law enforcement, ambulance services, and municipal authorities. The NHAI team will also conduct joint drills with traffic police and exercises to ensure efficient coordination during fog-related emergencies.
Earlier, NHAI delegated financial powers for the rectification of accident spots to its field officers and these can be utilised for providing engineering short-term measures to enhance visibility during foggy weather and the overall safety of road users.
NHAI, in a statement, said it is committed to taking all necessary steps to mitigate the risk of travelling on national highways during the winter season and ensure a safe and seamless travel experience.
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