'Fix faulty road signs before enforcing tough law'

 Before the amended Motor Vehicles Act comes into effect, the government should put up proper road signs to avoid harassment to motorists from law enforcers, traffic engineering experts have urged.

The proposed law with hefty penalties for the offenders has been passed in Lok Sabha and is likely to come up in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session that begins on July 17.

Institute of Road Traffic Education President Rohit Baluja said the government agencies should install suitable traffic control devices like road signs, traffic signals and road markings.

IRTE recently conducted a survey on traffic control devices in Delhi with the School of Planning and Architecture and found 70 per cent of road signs, signals and markings are either not matching the prescribed standards or in breach of them.

“IF this is the case in the national capital, then we can imagine the situation in various states and union territories,” Baluja said. “The (government) agencies must fix these deficiencies before implementing the new law.”

“These are quite simple road engineering steps,” points out KK Kapila, chairman of International Road Federation, a global body working for better and safer roads. “Road signs, signals and minor layout changes at the intersection would help reduce road accidents.”

As a result of faulty traffic control devices, unsuspecting motorists would fall prey to the new law that envisages up to a year in prison and up to Rs 5000 fine, said Sewa Ram from School of Planning and Architecture.