Round-the-clock traffic signals at select spots

Automatic traffic signals on select arterial roads, including Anna Salai, in the city will function round-the-clock from Tuesday.

Traffic police have decided on this measure to curb over-speeding and reduce accidents. They would be on patrol duty to ensure that motorists complied with the rules. Other important roads on which the signals would be operated at night include E.V.R. Salai, 100-feet Road and Sardar Patel Road, traffic police officers told The Hindu.

Drivers found ignoring the traffic signal would be punished as surveillance cameras fitted at these points would facilitate the police to identify the violators, officers said.

Though vehicle movement considerably reduced beyond 11 p.m. at the junctions, overspeeding is common on a relatively free road, say traffic police. Many of the accidents reported between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. were major.

According to the officers, drivers found overspeeding or driving rashly during night hours would invite severe punishment. In cases of drunken driving, the vehicles would be detained and the accused sent to government hospital for medical examination. Letting them off after a penalty or severe warning would not suffice to curb drunken driving, some traffic police officers had suggested to the top brass. In the wake of Kamarajar Salai witnessing traffic snarls, in the evenings over the past few weeks, the police have decided to restrict vehicles on the stretch along the Marina during weekends.