Drive to ensure safety of pedestrians begins

Thiruvananthapuram: The police have started a traffic enforcement drive to reduce pedestrian casualties in the city.

From Wednesday, those who have appropriated footpath space will be evicted, the police said. Motorists who do not respect zebra lines will be fined. Speeding will be checked. Pedestrians who walk on road medians or crossroads at points where there are no zebra lines will be fined. Haphazard parking of vehicles will be discouraged.

Fifty pedestrians were killed in road accidents in the city last year. The toll till April this year is 11. Recent victims include veteran politician Varkala Radhakrishnan, who was fatally injured in an accident involving a milk van while out on an early morning walk. The deaths have raised public concern about the traffic safety of pedestrians. Deputy Commissioner of Police C. H. Nagaraju said pedestrian deaths often occurred during hours of darkness, and the casualties were mostly those who walked on the left side of the road.