Road studs and speed breakers

Road studs, commonly known as ‘cat’s eyes’ they were using instead of speed humps or breakers. They first introduced by a British businessman Mr. Shaw in 1935, served for decades but gradually invited a debate “Are they a problem or solution” and finally the civilized world concluded to get rid of them for the safety of public lives and property.

Speed hump

Speed breakers are a part of the revolutionary changes in the automobile industry. Across the globe, improved road infrastructure and strict adherence to the traffic rules forced the authorities concerned to look for some other options to reduce accident ratio after receiving great condemnation, besides facing legal proceedings in the courts of law.

Unfortunately in Pakistan, the departments concerned still consider cat’s eyes essential to mark lanes and slow down the vehicle's speed while using them as speed breakers, whereas for the purpose, a proper education was required, besides making people strictly adhere to the relevant rules.

As a part of road safety, while discussing the speed breakers, Talking to state-run wire service, a top official of National Highways And Motorway Police, Senior Superintendent Police, Jamil Hashmi, sharing the data on road accidents said around 15000 people lose their lives per-annum while some 1716 lives are lost to the subversive activities.

He said the figures were notifying and required some campaigns to educate people on road safety rules and guidelines. The director said some different sizes of road studs were being used ranging from 4 to 8 inches instead of speed humps, meant to specified purpose and areas. Big cat’s eyes were installed near schools, mosques, and hospitals as the CDA received complaints regarding a hit and run case.

“The rash drivers receive jerk when they drive through these cat’s eyes and are compelled to lessen the speed of their vehicles,” Fateh added. speed humps and breakers are not a choice, it is a necessity.