JOIN USAdditional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M A Saleem says the department has been taking a slew of measures to check overspeeding on highways, ring roads and elevated expressways. Excerpts from an interview with Deccan Herald:
How do you rate overspeeding as a serious menace on Bangalore roads?
Overspeeding is one of the main causes of accidents, next to factors such as overtaking from the wrong side and use of mobile phones while driving. But speed is just one component. Reckless driving, flouting of all traffic rules, proves fatal. Overspeeding also leads to accidents of pedestrians to a large extent, especially on the ring road and other arterial roads on the outskirts of the City dotted by fields on either side.
What steps has the department taken to check this?
We have now implemented a uniform speed limit on all roads, depending on the category of vehicles. The maximum speed limit on City roads is 60 kmph. It has been three months now. We are on a special drive for a strict implementation of speed limit. We have booked 22,843 cases for overspeeding since January 2012. The significant rise in the number of cases booked for overspeeding indicates a stricter enforcement of the uniform speed limit.
Presently, we have five speed enforcement cameras that are equipped with speedometers and click pictures of vehicles that cross the speed limit. We rotate the placement of these cameras at various locations that we have identified as zones prone to overspeeding. This doesn’t penalise the offender on the spot, but sends a notice to their residence.
Besides, we have manual interceptors. Nine of them. These vehicles patrol identified zones and penalise those found overspeeding, on the spot. These are also deployed on a rotation basis across various zones, usually in the early mornings and late at night.
Do you think punitive measures provided by the law are enough to act as a deterrent?
Presently, the law prescribes a fine of Rs 300 for the first offence, and Rs 600 for the second offence. The third offence merits impounding of the driving licence and imposition of a fine of Rs 600. The law is stringent enough because it provides for impounding of the driving licence of repeat offenders. To add to this, wide amendments to the Indian Motor Vehicles Act are coming up before parliament, which would provide for more stringent punitive action and also levy hefty penalties for traffic offences. That would serve the purpose.
Is there a grey area with the new access-controlled roads?
No, none of the access-controlled roads comes under our jurisdiction. Most parts of the NICE Road come under the Ramanagaram police limits. A small portion of the NICE Road falls in our area, but there isn’t any grey area. We enforce traffic control like any other area under us. When it is the police who are to investigate any accidents on these roads, then we have to have traffic control, too.
What about drag racing?
Drag racing is completely in check now. Since the law does not recognise it as a separate crime, we are booking regular IPC cases for reckless driving, leading to seizure of the vehicle, in some case also to the arrest of the driver/rider. This has acted as a strong deterrent and the menace is in check.
What would you say about those with a fad for speed?
Follow traffic rules. It solves most of the problems. Those who have a fad for speed should bear in mind that they are not only endangering their lives, but also those of innocents. It is not enough that you follow traffic rules and go home safe. Other road users too should follow the rules. So we are taking up awareness campaigns and also punitive action that educates commuters of the perils of speed. A stricter enforcement regime and an awareness campaign have yielded results. While the number of fatalities in accidents in Bangalore during 2010 was 858, it reduced to 757 in 2011.