Speed Limit Reduction on Noida-Greater Noida Expressway Postponed: Fog-Beating Safety Measures
The annual speed limit reduction drive on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, undertaken to prevent accidents during the foggy season, this year has been delayed. The initiative is usually done from December 15 to February 15, with the light and heavy vehicles' speed limits reduced in coordination with the Noida Traffic Police and the Noida Authority.
According to officials, the delay is due to low fog conditions in December and changes in the traffic department. However, discussions are being held to finalize the new speed limits and the date of implementation. Lakhan Singh Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) for Noida, confirmed that the process to reduce the speed limit is underway.
The purpose of this drive is to ensure the commuters' safety during the winter seasons because fog and freezing temperatures really reduce visibility and make the roads slippery, which leads to hazardous driving conditions. According to the Noida traffic authorities, the speed limit for light vehicles has been reduced from 100 km/h to 75 km/h, and for heavy vehicles, it has been lowered from 60 km/h to 50 km/h.
While Noida is taking its final shape about reducing speeds, the YEIDA already has initiated these speed limits reductions for the season. According to sources, the light vehicles on the Yamuna Expressway will move at reduced speeds of 75 km/h, down from its earlier 100 km/h, and the speed limit on heavy vehicles is lowered from 80 km/h to 60 km/h.
These precautionary measures are essential because fog considerably reduces visibility, which makes the possibility of road accidents very high. In fact, there were a few instances this year when fog was the contributing factor to serious accidents. On November 19, 17 people were injured when a Mathura-bound bus collided with an accidental truck due to dense fog on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE). Another accident was reported on November 24 on the Yamuna Expressway, where a speeding truck collided with two cars in low visibility, killing one and leaving several injured.
The Noida Authority has assured that new speed limit signboards will be installed by Tuesday to warn commuters and make travel safer during the winter season. This is part of efforts to reduce road accidents that are caused by fog and poor visibility.
