Wrong side, negligent riding kills man in accident on M. M Salai in Puducherry

A 55-year-old person was killed after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus near the New Bus Stand on Maraimalai Adigal Salai.

Police identified the deceased as Ganesan, a resident of Govinda Salai. After the accident, he was rushed to the Government General Hospital but doctors there could not save his life because of the grievous nature of injuries he sustained in the fall.

While Ganesan rode the bike on the one-way near the Bus Stand, the bus driver drove in a rash and negligent manner. A case has been registered against the bus driver under sections 125(a), 281 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the police said.

Wrong-side driving

In a release, Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic D. Divya said the deceased was not wearing helmet and was proceeding on the wrong side of the road. Despite sustained efforts to educate motorists on the ills of wrong-side driving and the need to wear helmet, vehicle users continued to ignore traffic rules, she said.

During the last three months, a total of 12,346 challans were issued to motorists for wrong-side driving. The tragic accident that occurred on M. M. Salai highlighted the potentially fatal consequence of wrong-side driving and the importance of wearing helmet, she said.

“A single moment of dangerous driving could shatter a family’s dreams and leave loved ones with a void that can never be filled. We appeal to motorists to strictly follow traffic rules, drive responsibly and recognise that every act of carelessness on the road could have irreversible consequences,” Ms. Divya said. 

Wrong-side driving is a serious traffic violation and will not be tolerated. Motorists are being warned that in cases involving life-threatening violations, serious risks to human life or repeated offences, criminal proceedings, including registration of FIR wherever warranted under the applicable law, would be initiated against offenders, the SSP said.

Such action against offenders would be “a last resort” based on the gravity of the violation, facts and circumstances of each case. Appropriate legal action will also be taken wherever warranted against those whose actions result in serious accidents or endanger the lives of other road users.

All motorists are advised to strictly adhere to traffic rules, drive only in the prescribed direction, wear helmet while riding two-wheelers and refrain from rash and negligent driving, the release said.