Eye-to-eye communication and eye-hand coordination between a pedestrian and a motorist remains the unbeatable sign for crossing the road in Hyderabad. So are the risks and accidents when such ‘successful coordination’ fails even by a small margin.
The pelican signals or pedestrian light-controlled crossing, for instance, the latest experiment in Hyderabad under the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Safe City Project, for the safety of pedestrians and road-crossers has failed to mark the initial positive impact a month after its launch.
Launched on May 17, the Hyderabad city police activated 30 new pelican signals. The police believed that they would end the woes of pedestrians. It was also the first time, police said, that traffic wardens, who are appointed on a monthly-salary basis, will man these signals and help pedestrians cross the road — contrary to the concept of use of pelican signals by pedestrian themselves.
