Aquaplaning hotspots on NH 66 pose threat to motorists

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective. First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming. Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day. Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features. Several aquaplaning hotspots on the newly widened National Highway-66 between Kozhikode and Malappuram districts have emerged as a major safety concern, with motorists warning that the condition could lead to serious accidents during the monsoon season. Drivers who regularly use the high-speed corridor say at least six locations on the highway have become danger zones, particularly during moderate to heavy rainfall, when water accumulates on the road surface and causes vehicles to lose traction. They point out that many motorists unfamiliar with the phenomenon of aquaplaning continue to drive at high speeds, increasing the risk of accidents. According to drivers who have recently encountered the situation, most of the vulnerable stretches are located along the overtaking lane (fast track), where vehicle speeds frequently exceed 80 kmph. The combination of high speed and waterlogged surfaces can result in a sudden loss of steering and braking control, they say. A contractor from Payyoli who was previously associated with the road construction work attributes the problem to deficiencies in road surfacing. He maintains that any expert engineer can easily address the issue if the authorities are genuinely interested in finding a solution and ensuring the safety of motorists. Drivers allege that the issue has not received adequate attention from either people’s representatives or road users, many of whom continue to view it as a routine monsoon-related inconvenience. They also complain that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is yet to formally respond to the concerns raised by motorists or convene a meeting to discuss remedial measures. “Many drivers using the route are unfamiliar with the road conditions. In the absence of cautionary measures from the authorities, they are more likely to fall victim to this growing road hazard,” said Dileep Karanattu, an ambulance driver from Moodadi. He warned that vehicles losing control at the affected locations could crash into