NHAI Releases Guidelines For Road Safety Measures To Counter Reduced Visibility Due To Foggy Conditions

In order to counter reduced visibility on national highways due to onset of the winter season, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav, has directed NHAI field offices to undertake various mitigation measures.

Deployment of highway patrol vehicles, use of red/green blinking baton for guiding traffic, night-time highway inspection and electronic signages to display ‘foggy weather alerts’ are some of the measures being undertaken by NHAI authorities to tackle reduced visibility in foggy conditions.

With reduced visibility due to foggy conditions posing significant risk to the safety of the highways users, these measures will help to avoid potential accidents that endanger the safety of highway users.

Th mitigation measures have been classified under two heads: engineering measures and safety awareness measures.

The ‘engineering measures’ include reinstalling missing/damaged road signs, rectifying faded or inadequate pavement markings, enhance visibility of safety devices by providing reflective markers, median markers, etc.,

Additionally, the measures highlight providing transverse bar markings in habitations and accident-prone locations, ensuring functional blinkers at median openings at under construction zones and hazardous locations, and replacement of damaged hazard markers signs at diverging and merging locations.

Similarly, ‘safety awareness’ measures underline incorporating steps to alert highway users of the reduced visibility conditions.

These measures include use of variable message signs or electronic signages to display ‘foggy weather alerts’ and speed limit messages; use of public address system warning commuters about driving speed limit of 30 km/hr in foggy areas; use of electronic billboards, radio, and social media for public service announcements on toll plazas; wayside amenities during foggy conditions and installation of reflective tapes on full width of vehicles on the highways.

The guidelines also encourage NHAI officials to create awareness among highway users to use blinkers and follow traffic rules.

In addition, safety awareness pamphlets will also be distributed to commuters crossing toll plaza with a contact number to share information about foggy conditions and assist in case of accidents.

NHAI field offices have been directed to undertake nighttime highway inspection on weekly basis by team consisting of NHAI officials, independent engineers, concessionaire/contractor to assess visibility on highway and identify locations for installing additional provisions as required. Also, highway patrol vehicles will be stationed near dense foggy stretches.

The highway operation and maintenance team will carry red/green blinking baton for guiding traffic in case of accidents and establish seamless collaboration with local law enforcement, ambulance services, and municipal authorities.

NHAI team will also conduct joint drills and exercises to ensure efficient coordination during fog-related emergencies.

NHAI is committed to take all necessary steps to mitigate risk of travelling on national highways during winter season and ensure a safe and seamless travel experience for the users.