Mangaluru: In a major road safety initiative aimed at reducing the alarming number of pedestrian fatalities, the Mangaluru City Police have decided to barricade medians along national highway stretches within the commissionerate limits. The move is intended to ensure that pedestrians cross roads only at designated zebra crossings and not through unsafe gaps in the median.

The decision was announced by Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH while speaking at the National Road Safety Month programme organised by the Mangaluru City Police on Tuesday. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the Commissioner said that out of 171 accident-related deaths reported in 2025 within the Mangaluru Commissionerate limits, as many as 67 victims were pedestrians. In addition, 249 pedestrians sustained injuries in road accidents during the same period.

Barricading medians to restrict unsafe crossings

Commissioner Reddy stated that many pedestrians risk their lives by crossing highways through the median instead of using zebra crossings or pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. To address this, barricading work along highway medians has already been initiated and is currently underway.

“The objective is simple — pedestrians must cross roads only at safe and designated points. Barricading the medians will physically prevent dangerous crossings and help reduce avoidable fatalities,” he said.

He added that as both national and state highways pass through Mangaluru city limits, traffic density remains high throughout the day, making unregulated pedestrian movement particularly dangerous.

Two-wheeler riders account for major share of casualties

Apart from pedestrian deaths, the Commissioner also expressed concern over the high number of fatalities involving two-wheeler riders. According to official data, 82 two-wheeler riders lost their lives in road accidents in 2025. Out of the total 1,213 persons injured in accidents during the year, 627 were two-wheeler riders.

Authorities noted that lack of helmet usage, overspeeding, drunken driving and underage riding continue to be major contributing factors behind these accidents.

Strict action against drunken driving and underage riding

Commissioner Reddy revealed that last year alone, 698 cases of drunken driving were booked within the city limits. In view of the rise in violations related to drunken driving and underage riding, police personnel have been instructed to invoke stringent legal provisions.

“In cases where accidents result in loss of life due to reckless behaviour, police have been directed to book cases under sections related to culpable homicide,” he said, underlining the zero-tolerance approach adopted by the department.

He also expressed concern over attempts by some individuals to communalise road accidents in the district, despite the loss of innocent lives. Such behaviour, he said, was unacceptable and diverted attention from the real issue of road safety.

Medical experts stress social and financial impact

Speaking at the programme, KMC Hospital neurosurgeon Dr Arjun Shetty highlighted that road accident injuries do not only cause physical suffering but often financially cripple entire families. He stressed the need for strict enforcement against drunken driving, stating that consuming alcohol “once in a while” cannot be used as an excuse for endangering lives.

Dr Shetty also called for stricter norms while renewing driving licences, particularly for people aged between 60 and 65 years and above, to ensure that only medically fit individuals remain on the roads.

Need for public cooperation and legal awareness

Director and actor Devadas Kapikad appealed to the public to work in coordination with the police department by adhering to traffic rules and adopting responsible road behaviour.

District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary Zaibunnisa pointed out that an average of 4.5 lakh road accidents occur every year across the country, resulting in around 1.6 lakh deaths. She observed that driver negligence accounts for the majority of accidents and emphasised the importance of awareness about traffic rules and legal consequences.

Accident statistics and enforcement measures

Providing a broader picture, DCP (Crime and Traffic) Ravi Shankar said that Karnataka reported 43,130 road accidents in 2025, claiming 10,625 lives. Over the past three years, Mangaluru city has recorded an average of 1,020 accidents annually.

As many as 15 accident-prone black spots have been identified within the city, and corrective measures are being implemented. To strengthen traffic enforcement and monitoring, CCTV cameras have been installed at 28 locations.

Last year, a total of 2,43,500 traffic violation cases were booked, and fines amounting to ₹9.5 crore were collected. Proposals for improving major junctions have also been submitted to the Mangaluru City Corporation to ease traffic movement and enhance safety.

Felicitation and symbolic awareness drive

During the event, traffic wardens Francis Moras, Hassan, Roshan Roy Sequeira, Boobanna, Ramesh Kavoor, Basheer Haleyangady, and constable Mansida Banu were felicitated for their service. Helmets were also symbolically distributed to riders found travelling without helmets, reinforcing the importance of safety gear.

Conclusion

With pedestrian deaths and two-wheeler fatalities forming a significant portion of road accident casualties, the decision to barricade highway medians marks a critical step towards improving road safety in Mangaluru. However, officials reiterated that infrastructure measures alone are not enough and stressed that lasting change will depend on responsible behaviour, strict enforcement and sustained public cooperation.