During the ongoing winter season when different cities of India are experiencing dense foggy weather conditions, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking proactive measures to counter reduced visibility and prevent road accidents on the National Highways. NHAI field offices have been directed to take proactive mitigation measures to enhance visibility for the safety of National Highway users.
This comes at a time when The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for dense fog conditions during the late night and early morning hours in Bihar, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh till 30th November and in Uttar Pradesh till the 2nd of December. Moderate smog is also likely to engulf isolated pockets of North India for the rest of the week. In Gurugram, the IMD has issued a yellow alert predicting ‘dense’ to ‘very dense’ fog for the weekend.
In such a weather condition, to enhance road safety during foggy conditions, the NHAI has classified the mitigation measures into two categories – ‘Engineering’ and ‘Safety Awareness’.
Engineering measures
As per of the Engineering measures:
Missing or damaged road signs will be reinstalled
Faded or inadequate pavement markings will be rectified
Reflective markers, median markers, etc. will be provided to enhance visibility of safety devices
Transverse bar markings will be provided in habitations and accident-prone locations
Solar blinkers will be provided on the median openings
Damaged hazard markers signs at diverging & merging locations will be replaced
Safety Awareness
The ‘Safety Awareness’ measures include steps to alert highway users of the reduced visibility conditions. These measures include:
Installing Variable Message Signs (VMS) 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
Distribution of safety awareness pamphlets on Toll Plazas & Wayside Amenities during foggy conditions
Installation of reflective tapes on full width of vehicles on the highways
Other road safety measures by NHAI
Apart from the above, NHAI field offices will be conducting night-time highway inspection on regular basis. Teams consisting of officials, Independent Engineers and Contractors will be deputed to assess visibility on highway and identify locations for installing additional provisions as and when 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 accident and establish seamless collaboration with local law enforcement, ambulance services, and municipal authorities.
The NHAI team will also conduct joint drills with traffic police and exercises to ensure efficient coordination during fog-related emergencies.
