Dense Fog Causes 15-Vehicle Collision on Eastern Peripheral Expressway; Noida Police Lower Speed Limits

Noida | December 13, 2025 Thick fog on Saturday morning led to a major traffic accident on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE), where around 15 vehicles were involved in a chain collision due to poor visibility. The incident occurred near Samadhipur village and caused heavy disruption for commuters for nearly two hours. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported, police officials said. According to the police, the accident took place at around 8.30 am on the EPE stretch where vehicles were moving towards Palwal from the Dasna side. Due to dense fog, visibility dropped sharply, forcing vehicles to slow down. A vehicle at the front reduced speed suddenly, and another vehicle rammed into it from behind. As the drivers stopped to assess the damage, more vehicles approaching from behind failed to notice the halted traffic in time. Within minutes, the situation worsened as several vehicles crashed into each other, resulting in a pile-up involving nearly 15 vehicles. Both heavy and light vehicles were part of the collision, officials confirmed. A police officer said the fog was so thick that drivers could barely see a few metres ahead, making it difficult to react in time. After receiving information through the emergency helpline number 112, a team from the Dadri police station rushed to the spot. Police immediately restricted vehicle movement on the affected stretch of the expressway to prevent further accidents. Traffic on the EPE was brought to a halt while emergency teams worked to clear the damaged vehicles. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Greater Noida) Ajeet Kumar Singh said it took around two hours to remove the accident-hit vehicles from the main carriageway. Once the road was cleared, traffic movement was restored smoothly. He added that no one was injured in the accident and no formal complaint had been filed so far. Videos and images of the pile-up later surfaced on social media, showing damaged vehicles lined up closely on the fog-covered expressway. The incident once again highlighted the dangers of driving at high speeds during winter mornings when visibility is severely reduced. In response to the accident, the Noida traffic police issued a fresh advisory and announced a reduction in speed limits on major expressways in the region to ensure commuter safety. Officials said the decision was taken keeping in mind the increased risk of accidents during the winter season due to fog and slippery road conditions. From December 15, the maximum speed limit for light vehicles on the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway will be reduced from 100 kmph to 75 kmph. Traffic police clarified that the speed limit for heavy vehicles will remain unchanged. Heavy vehicles will continue to be allowed at a maximum speed of 60 kmph on the Yamuna Expressway and 50 kmph on the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pravin Ranjan Singh said winter conditions significantly affect driving safety. Fog reduces visibility, while cold weather can make roads slippery, reducing tyre grip and vehicle control. He urged drivers to maintain safe distances, avoid sudden braking, and strictly follow speed limits, especially during early morning and late-night hours. He also added that the revised speed limits will be updated on Google Maps to help drivers stay informed. This initiative was first introduced during Road Safety Month in November and has helped in improving awareness among commuters. Traffic police data further underlines the seriousness of speeding-related accidents in Noida. Between January and October 2025, as many as 59,242 challans were issued for speeding violations. In 2024, the district recorded 1,165 road accidents, in which 462 people lost their lives and 966 were injured. In 2025, between January and August alone, 797 accidents were reported, resulting in 311 deaths and 585 injuries. Police officials have once again appealed to motorists to drive responsibly, especially during foggy conditions, and to follow advisories issued by traffic authorities. They warned that ignoring speed limits and safety norms during winter can turn routine journeys into life-threatening situations. Dense Fog Causes 15-Vehicle Collision on Eastern Peripheral Expressway; Noida Police Lower Speed Limits A thick blanket of fog led to a major traffic incident on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE) on Saturday morning, where around 15 vehicles were involved in a chain collision. The accident occurred near Samadhipur village at around 8.30 am as vehicles were travelling from the Dasna side towards Palwal. Poor visibility forced vehicles to slow down, triggering a series of crashes within minutes. According to police officials, one vehicle reduced its speed due to dense fog and was hit from behind by another vehicle. As the drivers stopped to assess the damage, more vehicles approaching from behind failed to notice the halted traffic in time. This resulted in a pile-up involving both heavy and light vehicles. The fog was so thick that drivers could barely see ahead, making it difficult to react quickly. A team from the Dadri police station reached the spot soon after receiving an alert through emergency helpline number 112. Police restricted vehicle movement on the expressway to prevent further accidents and began clearing the damaged vehicles. Traffic remained affected for nearly two hours before normal movement was restored. Officials confirmed that no injuries or casualties were reported and no complaint has been filed so far. Following the incident, Noida traffic police issued a fresh advisory to improve road safety during the winter season. From December 15, the speed limit for light vehicles on the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway will be reduced from 100 kmph to 75 kmph. The speed limit for heavy vehicles will remain unchanged at 60 kmph on the Yamuna Expressway and 50 kmph on the Noida–Greater Noida Expressway. Traffic officials said winter fog and slippery roads make high-speed driving dangerous. The revised speed limits will also be reflected on Google Maps to help drivers stay informed. With rising accident numbers linked to speeding, police have urged commuters to slow down, maintain safe distance, and drive cautiously during foggy conditions.