Thiruvananthapuram: PWD minister PK Basheer said in the assembly that half of the road accident deaths reported in Keralam between 2021 and 2026 occurred on national highways. Responding to questions from MLAs, he said speeding and traffic rule violations were the leading causes of crashes and that deficiencies in road construction cannot be seen as the sole reason for accidents. At the same time, he noted that shortcomings in road infrastructure are also among the contributing factors.“At locations where accidents occur frequently, joint inspections are carried out by the police, MVD and the road agencies concerned to identify the causes and recommend corrective measures. Before preparing estimates for road restoration, the present condition of the site, past accident history and existing risks are reviewed so that necessary safety provisions can be included,” he said.Basheer said scientific studies are being conducted by Natpac to identify major accident-prone stretches as black spots and introduce safety measures. On national highways, temporary and permanent remedies are being planned and implemented at hazardous black spots. In high-risk areas, steps such as installing solar blinkers, rumble strips, speed humps, reflective road signs, road markings and road studs are being taken, he added.Basheer said safety measures are being introduced at dangerous curves and medians, including the installation of metal crash barriers or wire rope barriers.
