`Speed thrills, but kills': Telangana motorists decry arbitrary overspeeding challans
The states have the authority under section 112 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 to reduce the speed limits for exceptional scenarios like school zones, roads passing through villages, populated areas, and so on. However, the speed limit can be reduced only through the amendment to 2018 law by issuing an official gazette. However, the TS government has not made any amendments to the law so far.
By Amrutha Kosuru Published on 9 Feb 2022 4:15 AM GMT
Deepak was driving at 91 kmph on an empty road at Siddipet sometime last year. A few days later, he received an e-challan from the Telangana police stating that he was overspeeding as the limit was supposedly 80 kmph on the stretch. He was asked to pay a Rs 1000 fine.
"It is actually confusing. In the Shamirpet-Siddipet Road, there are spots that have different speed limit signs. At one point, the speed limit was 90 kmph. After 500 meter, the speed limit changes to 40 kmph," Deepak said.
Similarly, Naveen was charged Rs 1400 for driving at 50 kmph in Madhapur 100 feet road where the speed limit is supposedly 40 kmph as per the Telangana Police.
However, both Naveen and Deepak were under the impression that the speed limit is higher.
"Technically, the speed limit for the road on which I was driving is supposed to be 120 kmph. But the authorities changed it. I received a challan," Deepak said.
On April 6, 2018, Parliament amended the law and fixed new traffic limits for cities and highways. Under the law, Traffic Speed Limits have been set at 60 kmph for cities and 120 kmph for Highways with a 5% margin of error.
The states have the authority under section 112 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 to reduce the speed limits for exceptional scenarios like school zones, roads passing through villages, populated areas, and so on. However, the speed limit can be reduced only through the amendment to 2018 law by issuing an official gazette.
However, the TS government has not made any amendments to the law so far.
Hyderabad Traffic Joint Commissioner A V Ranganath said he is not sure about the amendment. "However, as per the 2018 law, state authorities are allowed to fix the speed limits in areas to curb the accidents," Ranganath said.
He cited the example of the speed limit reduction in the Hyderabad Outer Ring Road from 120 kmph to 100 kmph. "This reduction was done by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Agency (HMDA). Post the speed reduction, the number of accidents in the outer ring road reduced," Ranganath said.
He said that the issue of speed limits will be rationalized soon for the convenience of the public. "We are working towards creating a model where speed limits are based on segregation of vehicles. There is a difference between a lorry going at 80 kmph and a car going at 80 kmph. This will be taken into consideration," he said.
Ranganath informed that accident data from the last five years will be factored into rationalizing speed limits. "The rationalization will ensure that the public is not wrongly issued e-challans," he said.
