Vasai traffic police have launched a daily loudspeaker awareness campaign on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway after a reported rise in fatal accidents involving pedestrians attempting to cross the busy national highway. Police are urging residents to use pedestrian bridges and underpasses instead of crossing the carriageway directly.
The campaign is being conducted in the morning and evening at locations where pedestrian movement is high and accident risks have been identified, according to a report by Loksatta – Vasai-Virar. Traffic police are using loudspeakers to warn citizens that crossing the highway can place their lives at risk.
Traffic Police Inspector Prashant Langi said citizens should use the pedestrian bridges and subways provided by the administration. “Do not cross the highway and put your life at risk; use the pedestrian bridges and underpasses built by the administration,” he said, according to the report.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway has seen a substantial increase in vehicle movement in recent times, while heavy and fast-moving vehicles have made direct pedestrian crossings particularly dangerous. Police said pedestrians may misjudge vehicle speeds or attempt to cross in a hurry, increasing the possibility of collisions.
The report also linked the safety concern to the expansion of industrial areas along the highway. Workers travelling to factories in the area are among those who frequently cross the highway, creating significant pedestrian movement near a road used by fast-moving traffic.
Police have warned that pedestrians who repeatedly violate safety instructions could face legal action. Crossing the highway in a manner that endangers life and violating traffic rules are offences, the traffic department said. The warning follows repeated appeals to residents to prioritise their safety and use designated crossing facilities.
According to Langi, pedestrian crossings are contributing to accidents on the highway and the traffic department is taking measures to reduce them. He also appealed to citizens not to cross roads in haste and to use pedestrian bridges instead.
The awareness campaign will continue during the morning and evening periods at locations identified by traffic police as having heavier pedestrian movement and greater accident risk.
