Reckless driving and poor traffic management make roads in Thiruvananthapuram unsafe

• TNN

• Published On Jan 9, 2026 at 12:26 PM IST

Roads in the state capital have again become unsafe for motorists due to reckless driving, blatant overtaking, violating signals, or a lack of traffic signals.

Three fatal accidents in two days — at Kazhakkoottam, Karakkamandapam and Pallichal — have brought the spotlight back on inefficient traffic and signal management and frequent overtaking by buses and other vehicles.

Among them, two separate accidents involving KSRTC buses claimed the lives of two two-wheeler riders, who were killed on the spot. In most cases culprits are buses and trucks. The new highway, which does not have curves and the narrow roads that join it have heightened the safety risk for motorists across the city.

Authorities have not yet provided awareness to the bus drivers, though there were quite a few accidents involving buses in the previous months. The residents’ associations have been giving feedback to traffic police, KSRTC and other agencies, but in vain.

Sasikumar of Nemom Residents Association said that a combination of reasons makes the roads unsafe for motorists — inadequate signals, lack of signals, absence of timers at signals, the time at which signals are operated, shortage of safe pedestrian crossings and lack of sensitisation of drivers.

“There are no signals at Karakkamandapam and Vellayani Junction. When the traffic signals are on, there are no countdown timers to assist pedestrians in crossing the road. They wait for some time and then attempt to cross through heavy traffic. There is no pedestrian crossing at Pravachambalam,” he said. The traffic police post a civil police officer or a warden every time the residents’ associations complain, but they are usually withdrawn after a few days, he added.

Motorists said that signals should be operated round the clock because vehicle density is high at nighttime also. However, most of the signals are operated from 8am only, but children start going to school much before that. He said that “this is leading to accidents because vehicles zoom past the junctions when signals are not in operation. This is a huge risk for the morning commuters.”

Several people also complained that some private buses do not obey traffic signals and overtake small vehicles recklessly. A senior photojournalist was killed on Wednesday after his two-wheeler was knocked down by a KSRTC bus at Karakkamandapam.

The traffic police identified more than 10 accident hotspots in the city, including Pappanamcode, East Fort, Chackai and Muttathara.

It is estimated that around 30% of the accidents and injuries take place on national highways, state highways and PWD roads. In 2024, around 222 people were killed on these roads.

A KSRTC official said that they provide training to drivers regularly. “They are selected randomly and are given road safety training at the training college located at Attakulangara. A five-day training is given for drivers involved in fatal accidents,” he said.>

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