Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MM/GA) - pics - RK Durga Digitals

Udupi, May 2: It is often said that road accidents are normally the result of bad roads. But there is another factor which has been cornered - even the best roads can be an open invitation to fatal accidents. When the roads are bad and filled with potholes, drivers would be careful while driving and would refrain from speeding away. But neat and best roads often invite drivers for careless driving resulting in worst accidents.

This could hold good in the case of National Highway 17. Not long ago, the highway was in such a bad shape that most of the vehicles tried to take all other possible routes and sub-ways to reach their destinations. None preferred travelling on the highway.

Now after several protests and agitations, the highway has been tarred and potholes have been covered. The National Highway authority has tarred the highway from Byndoor to Nantoor.  Though this has made journey pleasant for passengers, there is no doubt that it has also resulted in increase in accident.

Sources said that Rubber mastic bitumen laid on the national highway has proved to be dangerous for the vehicles. It is said that the road is so slippery that even applying mild brakes in times of necessity would resulted in skidding of the vehilce.

Though rubber mastic bitumen has not been used everywhere, wherever it is used, drivers have faced innumerable problems. One fresh example is about the half a kilometer road near Shree Janardhan Temple near the infamous Pangala Bridge (often referred as one of the most dangerous accident zones on NH 17). 

On Wednesday a Maruti Omni car collided with Indica car injuring seven. This was the sixth accident on this stretch of road in the last 10 days. While a person died after a tempo had turned turtle about a week ago,  a truck carrying fish to Goa, a lorry carrying fertilizers and another lorry met with accident on the same stretch on Tuesday morning. This was direct result of this smooth road since it had rained a bit on Tuesday morning.

Locals said that Pangala, which has a long history of fatal accidents, is once again turning into an accident zone not owing to the steep curve near the bridge but because of the new smooth road. Unless the concerned officers take notice of this, more lives are at stake in the coming days, said a driver of the private bus while speaking to our correspondent.