Madurai district police are taking efforts to put up barricades at additional spots on Madurai-Tiruchi highway.
Six persons were killed after a Marthandam-bound omni bus collided with a TNSTC bus that was proceeding towards Tiruchi near Karungalakudi on Madurai-Tiruchi highway in Madurai district in the early hours of July 13, 2026.In another accident reported within a month, five members of a family from Chennai were killed when their speeding car collided with several vehicles at Thumbapatti a little away from the earlier spot in the early hours of August 3.Both the accidents were reported on the same road, in the early hours and caused by human errors. Precious lives were lost as the drivers had lost control over their speeding vehicles as apparently they dozed off.The police say that drivers, including the professionals, tend to fall asleep involuntarily after long hours of tiresome driving.Both the accidents were reported in the odd hours.“This stretch between Melur and Kottampatti is almost equi-distance from Chennai in north and Marthandam in the south. The buses take at least over five to six hours to cross this stretch. The drivers of overnight bus services slowly lose their focus after long hours of driving past midnight and thus leading to accidents,” said an Inspector of Police.The straight four-way highway also provide a monotony while driving fast.After the gory accidents, Madurai district police have taken additional steps to put up blockades at the openings on the medians on the highway forcing the vehicles to slow down consciously.“A slight break in the monotonous driving would bring the senses back to the drivers who fall drowsy due to their physical fatigue,” the Inspector said.Considering the urgency in their efforts, the police have put up steel drums with reflective stickers closing one of the two lanes on both directions so that the vehicles slow down and drivers become mindful of their safe driving.The bus operators should ensure that the drivers have adequate rest before they report for duty. “Many of the drivers take up all their personal and family chores during the peak rest hours and hurriedly turn up for long haul of driving,” another police officer said.A mandatory halt for fewer minutes between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. at a roadside tea stall would help the drivers get refreshed with a hot cup of tea along with a stroll for short distance.When even professional drivers could not have a control over their biological clock, amateur drivers should avoid long overnight journeys without adequate rest to ensure their own safety and also that of other road users, the police say. Published - August 14, 2026 09:09 pm IST
