‘Speed governors a must to control road accidents’

Awareness can bring down mishaps by 20% and speed governing devices by 30%, says noted road safety expert

Speeding commercial vehicles were one of the main reasons for the growing number of road accidents in the country, said noted road safety expert and member of National Road Safety Council, Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, Govt of India, Dr Kamal Soi.

Talking to Hindustan Times here on Friday, Soi said, “UP is among the top three states where maximum number of road accidents and deaths take place.”

“But these accidents can be prevented if speed governors are fitted in all commercial vehicles as per law.”

He said, “As per the National Crime Records Bureau report 2015, there were 32,385 road accidents in UP, in which 23,205 people were injured and 17,666 died. In 2014, there were 26,064 road accidents, in which 16,458 people were injured and 16,284 died. The number of deaths in the state is more than the number of people killed by terrorists in the country.”

“Over speeding is reported as one of the main reasons for accidents and deaths. According to a survey, it accounts for 50% of road accidents.”

Soi feels awareness about safe driving is crucial as it can minimize accidents by 20%. “By fitting quality and approved speed governing devices in vehicles, 30% of road accidents could be avoided,” he said, alleging laxity on the part of the bureaucracy and lack of political will in installation of speed governors in commercial vehicles in the state.

Citing an example, he said this year, the Karnataka government had reduced accidents in the state by 31% by fitting speed governors in commercial vehicles.

He said the ministry of road transport had issued guidelines on June,16, 2016, recommending that the speed limiting devices (SLDs) should conform to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements and serial number of the speed limiting device be integrated with the VAHAN database for quick audit and retrieval of records through a comprehensive management information system (MIS).

Still the UP transport department was not willing to follow the mandatory notification/ guidelines.

Even the Supreme Court committee on road safety had directed all the states and union territories to ensure compliance with the guidelines, he said , adding that he had met the transport commissioner and other officials in this regard.

“And they have promised early action as delay would mean loss of innocent lives in the state,” he said.

UP is among the top three states where maximum number of road accidents and deaths take place. But these accidents can be prevented if speed governors are fitted in all commercial vehicles. DR KAMAL SOI, noted road safety expert