SINDHULI, Dec 13: Driving on the Banepa-Sindhuli-Bardibas highway gives a great feel to drivers. This highway is gradually becoming popular among youths, couples, and even tourists. However, the road is risky, locals warn. In the lack of speed control, accidents have become casual.

"People drive on this road- sometimes out of necessity and sometimes just to enjoy a great long drive. Couples frequent the highway for long drives," said a local of Sindhuli, Niraj Sharma. "But driving on the road is very risky. Drivers don't consider the risk factors and enticed with the sleek road they drive at high speed. It is very dangerous."

The BP highway is regarded as a 'tourists' highway'. Hundreds of vehicles ply through the road every day. Locals have urged the government to take its accident rates seriously and solve the problem.

Accidents along the road have become casual. Traffic Police stress the need to implement security measures strictly on the road. "Drivers have been ignoring speed limits while driving on the road and we also have not been able to implement it and keep the drivers in discipline," said Chief of Traffic Police, Banepa, SP Rameshwor Prasad Yadav. "People always seem to be in a hurry when they are driving or riding bikes."

District Police Office and the District Traffic Unit had earlier announced 'time card' rule to control the speed of the vehicles on the way and curb accidents. However, in the lack of proper monitoring and action against drivers who don't follow the time card rule, the traffic police has not been able to implement the time card provision effectively.

"As per the time card rule, a driver has to reach a within a certain time, neither too late, nor too early. we fix a time duration of a vehicle as per distance. The objective of it is to have the drivers drive slowly and reach the destination on time. However, some drivers have been exploiting the time card rule. They stop their vehicles, enjoy tea or snacks on the way. And then speed up to make up for that time," explained SP Yadav. "We cannot force travelers to not stop at eateries or from taking breaks."

The time card was implemented following a high rate of accidents along this highway. Locals had hoped that the rule would curb accidents. However, this has not been so, Sharma said.

Though the time card was brought into use two years ago, the impact has not been considerable. For this, not just punishment, but awareness among drivers is also necessary, Yadav said.

"The road is smooth. But it is narrow and there are too many turnings. But drivers don't care. Punishment alone does not work, they should be responsible. Awareness is important," he said.

While saying this, he however also said that the police would take stricter action against the rule breakers. For this, he said that his office needs additional human resources.

"We are in shortage of human resource for enforcing traffic rules on the highway. That is a serious problem," he lamented.

Yadav stated that until and unless additional traffic police are deployed at tea shops and eateries, things are hardly going to change. "One person cannot check things everywhere. If we want to keep the drivers disciplined, we have to be able to inspect things minutely. For this, we need additional human resources," he said.

According to reports, accident rates are higher among micro and minibus.

"If we go by records, young drivers who drive micro and minibus are more restless. They take a good rest at junctions and then drive very speedily when they are on the road," said Yadav.

Locals agree with Yadav. They say that the BP highway has become a 'death zone' due to 'silly' young drivers. Until and unless senior drivers replace such drivers accidents won't come in control, they say.

"If you look at the age of the drivers, you feel strange. They are so young. And they are simply not serious. They feel fascinated while speeding. They don't care," said Sharma. "We feel extremely worried about it, most of the microbuses are manned by young drivers."

The BP highway is regarded as a 'tourists' highway'. Hundreds of vehicles ply through the road every day. Locals have urged the government to take its accident rates seriously and solve the problem.

"If additional traffic police officials have to be deployed for controlling the accidents, then the government should do that. This highway must be safe to drive," stated Sharma.

As per the time card rules, there are different speed rates for different section of the highway. On an average, the speed limit is set between 30 to 40 kilometers per hour.

 
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