Monsoon triggers aquaplaning concerns on Kerala’s NH-66
With the monsoon intensifying, the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) and the traffic police have urged motorists to exercise caution against aquaplaning while driving on the
With the monsoon intensifying, the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) and the traffic police have urged motorists to exercise caution against aquaplaning while driving on the newly opened si lane stretches of Highway (NH) 66 in the northern districts of Kerala. Officials said that despite speed restrictions on vulnerable stretches in Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts, many motorists continue to exceed the prescribed speed limits, increasing the risk of accidents during heavy rain. They said 12 recent incidents of aquaplaning on the si lane NH-66 in Malappuram district underscored the need for strict adherence to speed limits. They added that the loss of tyre traction caused by water accumulation on the road surface could have serious consequences, particularly for light motor vehicles.
“Regular commuters may be familiar with waterlogged stretches and tend to slow down. However, drivers unfamiliar with the road conditions are more likely to encounter dangerous situations,” said an Assistant Motor Vehicles Inspector attached to the MVD’s enforcement wing. The official added that vehicles that lose control due to aquaplaning could endanger other road users as well. Meanwhile, Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials said complaints raised by motorists about certain stretches had already been addressed. They added that any other vulnerable stretches identified during inspections by the engineering wing would be recommended for immediate rectification. MVD and traffic police officials said camera-based enforcement would be intensified on highways in view of the increasing number of complaints about speed-limit violations.
They also added that some motorists repeatedly violated traffic rules, choosing to pay fines online rather than comply with safety regulations. V.P. Deepak, a driving instructor from Tenhipalam, said greater public awareness was needed, as many motorists remained unfamiliar with the risks of aquaplaning. “Road safety agencies should conduct awareness campaigns, and cautionary signboards should be installed along newly widened highway stretches to alert motorists during the monsoon,” he added. Meanwhile, representatives of two local action committees formed against the NH widening project in Kozhikode and Malappuram alleged that the increasing number of waterlogged stretches and incidents of aquaplaning reflected deficiencies in the road’s engineering.
The BriefWire