Hyderabad: Jumping lanes and overtaking near turns might seem a trivial shortcut in Hyderabad yet its cost is measured in lives. Two-wheelers in the city often try to pass cars and heavy vehicles, misjudging space and speed near turns. Blind spots, sudden moves and lack of patience turn these shortcuts fatal.
Recently, a 10-year-old student lost her life on Shaikpet-Manikonda Road reportedly when her father attempted to overtake a lorry near a speed breaker. Filmnagar inspector M. Srinivasulu told Deccan Chronicle that the girl’s father did not notice a speed breaker or an oncoming motorist while overtaking the lorry.
“The father of the girl was trying to overtake the lorry. However, he failed to notice that a speedbreaker and a motorist was coming from the front. He lost balance and fell on the right side. His daughter who fell on the left side was run over by the lorry,” the inspector said.
This death follows a pattern — riders overtaking at near U-turns, curves and speed breakers are often ignoring the risks. Police said, according to an analysis of the road accidents in the city, a 2020 study found that 40 per cent of fatal accidents in Hyderabad were due to the negligence of the deceased. In 2023, a youth died trying to overtake a milk container lorry from the wrong side.
Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand, who has worked in the traffic wing in the city for over six years, blamed road design. He said, “Following lane discipline is a little difficult in Hyderabad primarily because of the structure of the roads in the city, which were designed according to the old times.” For instance, he added: “Three-lane roads suddenly turn into six-lane ones at several junctions, making regulation difficult.”
Anand insisted that violations have no justification. “Jumping signals or overtaking dangerously is not just a traffic offence but a violation of human rights. I believe there is something called ‘social proofing’ that helps greatly on the road. People more often than not follow what others do. If one person does not jump the red signal in the absence of traffic, at least eight out of the ten motorists behind will follow him and stop,” he said.
Traffic DCP Rahul Hegde explained the risks. “More often than not, smaller vehicles, which are meant to be on the left, overtake the heavier vehicles from the right to take a U-turn. As heavy vehicles take more space to make the -turn, a smaller vehicle becomes a blind spot for them. Some even squeeze between two heavy vehicles, making it even more dangerous,” he explained.
Road safety counsellor Naresh Raghavan pointed to a mix of poor road planning and reckless driving, “We have an unnecessarily high number of long U-turns in the city. These long U-turns along with our impatient motorists’ “me first” policy, makes fatalities so common at these U-turns. We do not get how a driver or a rider on the road believes taking a U-turn when the signal is red is even acceptable?”
Raghavan advised patience at intersections. “Never take a U-turn when the signal is red. Wait for a green arrow. Different vehicles have different turning radii, and overtaking at a turn increases the risk of collisions,” he informed.
On Tuesday, two bikers lost their lives while taking a U-turn near Medchal. Medchal inspector A. Satyanarayana said they failed to check for oncoming traffic before turning. Citing this accident, Naresh said, “Even while making a U-turn, move to the rightmost lane and turn the vehicle or steering sharply to make as sharp a turn as possible. But never stray into the left lane of opposite traffic.”
In 2020, seven family members died near Chevella when their vehicle tried to overtake on a curve, turning a trip to Gurmitkal into a tragedy.
GFX
Do and don’ts while changing lanes and overtaking
Dos:
– Overtake only on the right unless the vehicle ahead signals a right turn.
– Check mirrors and blind spots before overtaking.
– Maintain a safe distance from heavy vehicles.
– Ensure clear visibility of the road ahead.
– Complete the manoeuvre quickly and return to your lane.
Don’ts:
– Do not overtake at corners, bends or crossroads.
– Do not overtake if you can’t see the road ahead.
– Do not squeeze between two heavy vehicles.
– Do not trust “Go Ahead” signals from bystanders.
– Do not overtake at U-turns or near signals.
