NRSC member pitches for regulation of speed to reduce mishaps

More than half of the deaths in road accidents happen due to over-speeding of vehicles, a National Road Safety Council (NRSC) member said today, while advocating for regulation of speed on commercial vehicles and participation of states in curbing the menace.
NRSC member Kamaljit Soi noted that almost all states have so far remained non-committed to proper installations of 'speed governors', a device to measure and regulate speed, in commercial vehicles despite directions from the Supreme Court.
As per the 'Road accidents in India 2014' report by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) within the category of drivers' fault, accidents caused and persons killed due to "exceeding lawful speed" accounted for 55 per cent (2,08,271 out of 3,78,992 accidents) and 56.2 per cent (57,844 out of 1,02,878 deaths), respectively.

Reference in this regard is also made in the report titled 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India, 2014' by the National Crime Records Bureau, which states that 36.8 per cent accidents have been caused due to over-speeding, Soi said.
"The most effective way to reduce these alarming statistics is by slowing down on our roads. If we all slowed down, our chances of being killed or seriously injured on the road would dramatically decrease.
Pitching for mandatory installation of 'Speed Governors',

Soi said it is recommended that the states come up with the empanelment process with suitable eligibility criteria conditions for selection of speed governor manufacturers after inviting tenders.

Stating that the Supreme Court has in 2002 and 2009 issued notifications vide fitment of speed governors in commercial vehicles, the NRSC member said the directions of the apex court were not followed by states, except for Karnataka and Telangana.
To this end, the SC last week issued another notification and has asked all states and Union Territories to respond by January 11, 2016, Soi said.
Pitching further for a stronger enforcement of the SC directive, Soi, who is also an advisor on road safety in the European Union, said states need to invite tenders for large-scale installation of speed governors in order to check irregularities.

He suggested that these tenders be given to companies on sureties that they would stick for 10-15 years in their services and own responsibility for these devices.
"Number of states have come out with communications from time to time to comply with the notification dated April 15, 2015 for fitment of speed governor confirming to the standard AIS:018. However, they have faced the usual issues related to installation of SGs, like non fitment of speed governors, fake fitment certificates, tampering and removal, recycling, improper and incomplete fitment and operation by fly-by-night companies," he said.