Hyderabad: Stray animals, particularly dogs suddenly coming onto the Outer Ring Road (ORR), are emerging as a serious road safety concern, with motorists saying the animals leave drivers with little time to react at high speeds.
The issue has sparked discussion among motorists on Reddit, where several users from the city shared their experiences of dogs unexpectedly jumping onto or crossing the ORR.
During the discussion, while some said they had to brake suddenly, others warned that swerving at high speed could result in a more serious crash involving other vehicles.
Motorists also pointed out that animals emerging from the road divider or roadside can be particularly difficult to spot in time. One driver described a dog suddenly jumping onto the road, leaving him with almost no time to make a safe decision. As a result, his vehicle ended up hitting a tree on the roadside. However, no injuries were reported among the passengers.
The debate has also highlighted the confusion faced by motorists when an animal suddenly appears in their path. While some users advised drivers to avoid abrupt steering and remain in their lane, others stressed the importance of maintaining a safe speed and keeping a lookout, particularly near the road edges and dividers.
Several motorists said they prefer driving in the middle lanes on the ORR, where they believe they have a better view of obstacles emerging from the sides. Users also cautioned against unnecessarily occupying the extreme right lane except for overtaking.
Meanwhile, the discussions have drawn attention to the problem of stray dogs in the city. Apart from attacks on pedestrians and two-wheeler riders, dogs entering high-speed corridors such as the ORR can pose a significant risk to motorists and the animals themselves.
With the ORR carrying heavy traffic at high speeds, motorists say preventing stray animals from entering the expressway and strengthening monitoring along vulnerable stretches is important to avoid potentially fatal accidents.
