‘Reduce accidents with quality speed governing devices’

Addressing the media, Dr Kamal Soi, member, National Road Safety Council, Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stressed for quality speed governing devices. 

“Tamil Nadu has reported the highest number of road accidents and top killer states in India. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for the year 2015, the state had witnessed 69,059 road accidents with 79,746 injuries and a whopping 15,642 deaths, while the number stood with 67,250 crashes, 77,725 injured and 15,190 deaths in 2014 respectively,” he said. 

The road safety expert said that since the number of commercial vehicles are increasing gradually on the highways, they drive in high speeds. “It is one of the main reasons for road accidents and deaths accounting for over 40-50 per cent of the deaths on the roads.”

“Lawlessness on regulations in implementing fitment of speed governors is boosting the blatant affixation of Speed Limiting Devices (SLDs) through unapproved manufacturers. A representation was already made with the officials of Tamil Nadu transport department, suggesting process and precautionary measures which, if implemented would surely reduce road accidents,” he noted.

The speed governors, which are mandated by the Supreme Court and Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, are to be installed under the strict surveillance of the transport department through a legitimate tender and eligibility criteria process, Kamal pointed out. Stating that guidelines were issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport in June 2016, which are to be adhered by all the states for proper installation of speed governors of prescribed standards, he said that many states were not following the procedure. 

Moreover, Kamal stressed on the need for awareness on safe driving. He said “driving safely with conviction not to risk their own precious life or others will result in drastic reduction in road accidents.”