Patna: The state rural works department (RWD) has identified over 36,400 accident-prone and sensitive locations on rural roads and bridges across Bihar to install advance warning signs and safety markings to curb road accidents. These include stretches near schools, primary health centres (PHCs), hospitals and crowded town areas, where zebra crossings and other traffic-calming measures are being introduced to ensure safer pedestrian movement.According to an RWD communiqué, zebra crossings have already been painted at 26,000 busy and crowded locations on rural roads across the state. “The aim is to facilitate smooth crossing for schoolchildren, the elderly and other pedestrians, even in small towns,” it said, adding that the initiative is part of a larger road safety programme.Other safety measures—such as crash barriers (steel or plastic shields along sharp bends), stop signs, speed breakers, speed-limit signs and junction-ahead signages—are either being installed, erected and marked at identified spots or are under implementation. Additional accident-prone points include sharp bends and busy road intersections.The drive is being carried out in compliance with Supreme Court directions and as per strict instructions issued by the road construction department, the communiqué said. It added that implementing road safety norms has been made mandatory on all completed and under-construction rural roads to reduce the rising number of road accidents, as part of an overall road safety management policy.“These structural measures and road safety sign systems have helped in controlling accidents and enforcing speed limits at critical points. They also guide drivers effectively, even during foggy nights,” the communiqué said.
