Coimbatore: For years together, the city police have been trying and testing various measures to curb road accidents and save precious lives, but often without much success. They finally seem to have found a way out – introduction of zig-zag barricades at the black spots.If their tall claims are anything to go by, the city police have achieved significant success in road safety efforts with the strategic deployment of zig-zag barricades at the blackspots helping them bring down road fatalities in the first four months of the year. According to the traffic police, zig-zag barricades were introduced to force motorists to slow down and prevent them from speeding, which is generally considered the leading cause for fatal accidents on the city roads. The impact is clear when compared with the figures from the same period last year. Between Jan 1 and April 30, 2025, the city recorded 118 fatal accidents, resulting in 120 deaths. During the same period this year, after the barricades were installed, fatal accidents fell to 87 and the death toll dropped to 88. This represents a nearly 27% reduction in fatal accidents. A police official said the initiative has not only reduced the number of accidents but also lessened their severity, as lower speeds reduce the force of impact. S Ashok Kumar, deputy police commissioner (traffic), said the project was launched early this year with the installation of 64 barricades at as many accident hotspots. These locations were selected after a multi-year analysis of black spots where high-speed driving had frequently led to fatalities, he said. “Speeding is the primary cause for most road tragedies, and it accounts for nearly 90% of accidents. Drivers often treat open stretches of city roads like highways. By installing these zig-zag formations, we force them to maneuver cautiously, effectively reducing their speed and momentum,” the officer said. He also acknowledged that the barricades were not the sole reason for the decline in accidents. “It is just one of the several measures taken by the department to improve road safety across the city.” Another traffic police official said the strategy involves placing heavy-duty barricades in a staggered, alternating pattern, compelling vehicles to follow an S-shaped path instead of moving in a straight, high-speed line. Although some commuters initially complained about slight delays, the department maintained that the inconvenience was minor compared with the lives being saved. R Rajasekar, a 33-year-old taxi driver from Chettipalayam, said they initially found the barricades a hindrance as they were unfamiliar with their placement. Over time, however, drivers adapted and developed the habit of slowing down. Rajasekar said he traveled daily on Nanjundapuram Road, where accidents were once frequent, and noted that no accidents had occurred there since the barricades were installed. J Pradeep, of Podanur, said the initiative appeared to be life-saving, though visibility remained poor at some locations. He said he had seen motorists crash into barricades on a few occasions, but still described the measure as a positive step toward protecting lives. Encouraged by the sharp reduction in fatalities, the traffic department is now considering extending the initiative to secondary roads and school zones.
