Fatalities on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway spiked in 2021 and 2022, prompting a joint effort by the government and an NGO to implement various safety measures. This collaborative initiative, including speed-calming measures, loudspeaker announcements, and improved signage, is expected to lead to a 65% reduction in deaths, according to the NGO SaveLIFE Foundation.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari highlighted these safety efforts in his report on 'Road Safety Good Practices'. The report, prepared by the World Bank Group and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, dedicates a chapter to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the interventions implemented to reduce fatalities.
Statistics revealed a decline in deaths from 151 in 2016 to 72 in 2020, followed by a concerning rise to 91 in 2022. Experts identified speeding, dangerous driving, and overtaking from the left as major contributors to crashes and fatalities.
Truck brake failure was another significant factor, primarily on the Pune-Mumbai carriageway's ghat section. SaveLIFE Foundation CEO Piyush Tewari explained that drivers often use neutral gear on a downhill slope, leading to brake failure and tragic accidents.
To address this issue, several measures were implemented:
Forcing trucks to accelerate, decelerate, and change gears on the slope.
Collaborating with truck manufacturers to develop devices that warn drivers about the dangers of neutral gear driving.
Installing loudspeakers at strategic locations to discourage neutral gear driving in the ghat section.
Additional safety initiatives on the Expressway include:
Installation of 300 km of crash barriers.
200 km of tactile edge lines to combat driver fatigue.
Four active speed traps.
Six sets of rumble strips.
Implementation of no-parking zones.
The report also notes the success of similar interventions on the Mumbai-Pune highway, resulting in a 61% reduction in deaths from 2018-2021. This underscores the effectiveness of a comprehensive approach to road safety encompassing engineering, enforcement, emergency care, and education.
