While driving to Pondicherrry on the scenic East Coast Road, a Maruti Swift Dzire overtook us. I was driving at a ‘not-so-slow’ 70 kmph and this car was clearly touching the 90s. Barely a few minutes later, we were shocked to find the same car rolled over on the road side.�
We screeched to a halt, jumped out and rushed to the car fearing the worst. By then, the local farm workers also rushed towards the car. Miraculously, all the three passengers, an elderly gentleman and a middle aged couple, escaped scathe free. They were pulled out of the car and clearly were in a state of shock. The rains made the fields soggy and ensured a soft landing.
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I just dont understand why new drivers ride so fast.
I had seen similar incident for a two wheeler although that involved a minor accident, but damage was done to the vehicle for driving fast.
ECR is a nice road to drive and enjoy, hopefully people will learn to drive at speed they can control the vehicle.
Reading my above statements, if anyone thinks I am a slow driver, then let me clarify. My average speed in a four wheeler is above 100 and for a two wheeler is 80. Highest being 140 in a four wheeler. It was 140 coz, that car would not go any faster.
@Rashmi: In this case, your complaint is acceptable however the ECR is not really on par with roads in other countries when it comes to national highways.
We have cattle and other animals roam free on roads and we do nothing about it. These cause accidents. We have absolutely no way of monitoring traffic rules and regulations and if drivers adhere to them.
Lastly, our roads are not even. Point blank, ECR roads has a lot of ups and downs and patches. These patches are a major problem when you are driving at high speed. You drive at 90 on a highway because you need to, you don’t do that on mount road or on arcot road, t.nagar. Highways are supposed to take on 100+ speeds routinely and bear the heavy wear and tear on a day in/day out basis. Simply put, our highways are hardly ways for us to commute safely and quickly. I find it pointless to blame the citizens. If you cannot drive at 90 in a highway, where else do you drive at 90? I’m not saying driving at 90 is a necessity, no its not. Driving at 90 over long distances is of course a necessity, exclusively on highways. If you do 40 – 60 then it would take you 4 hours to get to pondichery from chennai. 100+ during a few long stretches on the ECR will reduce the travel time to 1.5 hours. Simply put this is what highways were built for (supposed to be built for).
Lets forget highways for a moment. While driving from velachery to nungambakkam today to office, i took mount road. Mount road of all places in the rain is flooded. The road is not flat, it bends and slants on either sides. Hence water makes bikes and cars slip and skid at speeds anything in excess of 20 km per hour. If this is not irony, i dont know what is
probably it was their first long drive and they would have learnt a lesson for life. I am sure they will be extra careful while driving for rest of their life.
ECR is just 2 lanes- needs to be converted into 4 lanes and a divider needs to be built.
As Dilip said, speeding is fine on highways and can not be blamed as the cause for accidents. Not maintaining safe braking distance, not anticipating trouble at turns, not knowing one’s vehicle well w.r.t its stopping abilities etc are the culprits. On a particular stretch on Bangalore-Mysore express way, when road was straight, deserted and visibility was perfect, I did touch 170, but won’t risk that speed during night, when it rains or on a curvy road.
Dilip,
Ah.. There you are.. started to complain again..
Anyway, it looks quite scary
@Narain: You have no idea what im talking about. Can you please get your raincoat on and drive from Teynampet signal to Gemini flyover? You will know exactly why i’m complaining. Safety is not an option, its a bare necessity for every human being. It can be India or Ethiopian, it don’t matter.
Its sad you tell me that im complaining so much but you never ponder why i complain so much. My life is short and i fail to take it for granted, which is why i complain.
Though it conflicts with the mood of the post, i can’t help admiring the pictures.
Pictures are too good.
ECR is not to be considered a highway at all, its just 2 lanes and no divider. Best route to Pondy is on GST road
Pity the insurance company…
Hello Kiruba,
I frequently hop on your blog and just saw this post.
I had a very similar experience. I took my brand new Santro and planned to cover Chennai and Mahabalipuram from Bangalore. There was a new car (again a Santro with and a young couple drivinf it) who overtook us on the way to Chennai. After a while we saw it met with an accident with slight head on collision on a curve. The guy was driving was driving a little too fast. By the time we reached the area, ambulance had already lifted the guys. So not sure what happened to them. But its irony that there are frequent accidents on this scenic route.
May be people have to be a little slow and have a safe drive.
Probably drivers also look left and right trying to enjoy the scenary, instead of staying focused on the road…
remember!! it could have been you
doesnt make too much of a difference – 70kmph or 90kmph
and
mr. rashmi ranjan padhy mahashay what are you trying to say? you are complaining that drivers drive too fast and then you say you are not a slow driver
every drive before the accident thinks he can control the car..so what is your point?
agree completely with anonymous. All these folks here seem to praise the ECR. ECR is really a dangerous route to take and especially for new drivers it is a strict no. With all the curves, cattle and kids crossing the road, it is seriously not advisable to drive over 80 on ECR. And 80 not in the curves.
I had one gone to Puducherry once via Tambaram route. It was far better than ECR and equally scenic. I don’t know if most the IT guys who go for a weekend at Pondy know of that route. We were pleasantly surprised ourselves, since we stay on the ECR and frequently use it.