New speedbreaker a safety hazard, say Ambattur locals

Chennai: Residents of Ambattur have requested Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to remove a rubber-plastic speedbreaker laid in front of a school in Thiruvengada Nagar as it has been causing inconvenience to motorists.The thin rubber-plastic speedbreaker is a popular high-visibility (yellow/black) traffic-calming solution for residential, commercial and parking areas. However, public roads should adhere to Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines regarding the specific design of speedbreakers - 3.7-metres wide and 10-centimetres high with a 17-metre radius hump, designed for 25 km/h speeds, and marked with reflective thermoplastic paint and warning signs placed in advance.However, residents of Ambattur said more than four plastic speedbreakers erected on TI School Road, Thiruvengada Nagar, have turned into a safety hazard. "Motorists ride the two-wheelers over the speed breakers and experience excruciating pain. They fear their two-wheelers might skid," said S Suresh, general secretary, Thiruvengada Nagar residents welfare association.Residents have complained to the traffic and Zone 7 officials of GCC. "The speedbreakers must be removed immediately. However, being a school zone, it is essential to lay speedbreakers as per GCC norms as it involves safety of schoolchildren," said T Senthil Kumar, joint secretary of the association.A GCC official from Zone 7 said the school management laid the plastic speedbreakers for the safety of students. "Vehicles travel at high speed here and the lives of students are at risk. If we lay the speedbreaker according to IRC, no one respects it. However, as residents demanded the speedbreaker's removal, we will do so and lay a new one as per norms," said the official.