According to police reports, a total of eight people died in the span of the past five years in accidents that occurred on the Addu City link road.
The 16-kilometer-long highway, famous for being deadly, was officially opened as a path for public transport in 2001. In that period of time, countless lives have been lost in fatal accidents that have tarnished the road.
According to a research conducted by police, from 2015 to the point at which this year has progressed, a total of 48 accidents have been recorded. Stats also reveal that the highest number of accidents have taken place in the past year (2018), which was 13 accidents. The largest number of people who died in accidents was assigned to the year 2017, with three deaths.
Police note that every incident that took place on the link road hasn’t been recorded separately, and that these stats were summarized most likely inaccurate as the number of accidents or deaths were probably higher.
Police division commander for south police division, chief inspector of police, Mr. Ahmed Rashwaan tells us, “Because Addu City is the most vehicle populated Atoll, only second to the capital Malé, Addu City is a common host for accidents.” “Notably, the larger number of vehicles isn’t necessarily the reason for an increase in accidents, and usually, the accidents are not too serious.”
The sides of the link road where the asphalt pavement ends, is asymmetrical and extremely obstructed by weeds and overgrowth. In addition, the uninhabited areas of the island are being eroded, and some areas are known to have been washed out by sea water.
The link road also doesn’t feature enough speed breakers to keep the speed limit in check, and approximately eight kilometers of the road have no street lights. At night, vehicles have to breeze by in pitch darkness. Some areas of the road don’t have the markings to show the line in between the left and right side of the road. Some turns and bends do not have the appropriate street signs placed. And what about the signs on the road that show the speed limit? Some of them are completely covered up by plants and overgrowth, no longer visible.
