Pune's 'tyre killers' to prevent wrong driving deemed too risky

Pune: Tyre killers - essentially a metal strip with angled spikes on one end - were installed in Amanora Park Town here recently. On Tuesday however, these were removed after the local traffic department deemed them to be too risky.

The spikes - used in several parts of the world - are angled on one side and wreck tyres of vehicles coming from the opposite (wrong) side. For traffic movement in the correct direction, these pose no risk as vehicles pass over them much like they do over speed breakers. In Amanora Park Town, these were placed at a cost of Rs 1.75 lakh but were removed after the traffic department wrote to the management of the township - highlighting that these were too risky for use, according to news agency ANI.

Critics of the spiked metal strips have argued that while it is important to prevent incorrect driving, using such devices can pose a serious threat to life on road. They say if a motorist fails to see them despite warning signs placed, the deflated tyres could either leave big vehicles stranded on the road - causing traffic jams, or fling riders on two-wheelers off.