Sir,

The tragic incident involving the death of four persons and injuries to five others occurred in Hunsur town and it took place at a turning in front of the RTO Office. A four-wheeler, moving on its designated side, collided head-on with a KSRTC electric bus at 8.30 am (reported as a ghastly accident in Star of Mysore dated Jan. 2).

This marks the second accident following the New Year, the previous one involving the loss of two BBA students in a collision with an SUV during the early hours of Jan. 1.

While initial suspicions point towards road engineering issues, as evidenced by another collision at the same spot in Hunsur later in the day at 10.30 am, it is suggested that the lack of warning signals at the curve might be a contributing factor rather than a flaw in the engineering design.

A thorough investigation is warranted to identify and rectify any potential black spots. Over-speeding appears to be a consistent factor in accidents, with electric buses, in particular, requiring careful control by the drivers due to the vehicle’s rapid acceleration. The difficulty in managing speed when confronted with a sudden oncoming vehicle often leads to collisions resulting from panic reactions.

Statistical data from a report as of July 17, 2023, reveals a concerning trend over the past five years (2018-2023), where KSRTC buses have been involved in 7,675 accidents, causing 1,971 fatalities and injuring 17,847 individuals. This underscores the urgent need for the KSRTC authorities to address and improve safety measures.

Additionally, BMTC buses in Bengaluru have garnered a poor reputation for their involvement in accidents, contributing to many fatalities. Both transport authorities must prioritise safety measures and take necessary actions to enhance road safety and mitigate accidents.

– H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Saraswathipuram, 3.1.2024

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