Pune’s citizens are inundated with constant reports on the increase in number of road accidents, caused by over speeding and violation of traffic guidelines. Over speeding is a malaise that is omnipresent both within the city, as well as on trunk highways and the Pune- Mumbai expressway.
Despite speed being a significant cause of road fatalities, The Ministry of Road Transport is believed to have issued fresh guidelines revising the speed limits upwards!
A notification is apparently in the process of being issues to this effect that proposes to allow for significantly higher speeds on city roads and highways. This covers all classes of motor vehicles and ranges from the two wheelers upto the heavy vehicles.
The ministry raised the express highway speed limit from 100km/h to 120km/h for M1 category vehicles (Motor vehicles used for carriage of passengers comprising not more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat). The speed limit for M2 and M3 category vehicles (Motor vehicles used for carriage of passengers comprising nine or more seats in addition to the driver’s seat) was changed to 100km/h as opposed to the earlier 80km/h.
All cars and cabs can go at 70km/h within the city limits while for motorcycles the expressway and regular highway speed limit is set at 80km/h. Speed for motorcycles within city has however been pegged at 60km/h.
The notification also mentioned that no action shall be taken if the speed detected is within 5 per cent of the maximum speed specified, under section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Pune365 team contacted Ashok R. Morale, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) who indicated, that they had not yet received any notification on this till date.
He further added, that these guidelines and notifications are managed by the RTO and they are the regulatory body that is responsible for the proper implementation of the changes.
Ashok Naidu, a city-based biking enthusiast says, “The increased speed limits on the highway especially, isn’t safe keeping in mind, the current conditions of the roads.
The more you speed on the roads, chances are that that your vehicles tyres may burst with expansion on the asphalt roads. If this unfortunately happens at a speed of 120km/h, it will be next to impossible to control the vehicle leading to a terrible accident.
Accordingly, 80km/hour is adequate, provided the traffic rules are adhered to. Also, some highways in India cannot be called as expressways, thanks to the lack of traffic sense among the citizens.
Huge vehicles can be spotted coming from the wrong direction on a one-way lane. I have lost quite a few of my rider friend due to such negligence by people, Naidu adds.
“Increasing the speed limit on the national highways as well as city roads is indeed a decision totally uncalled for. We must understand the fact, that we don’t have the infrastructure of the foreign countries.
90 per cent of the roads in the country face major congestion. What’s adds up to this unwanted congestion is the indisciplined driver.
Considering all this, increasing the speed limit is like establishing a gateway for the accidents,” says Rohit Rathod, MBA student.
Rishav Dubey, Software Engineer, who currently lives in Pune, travels almost every weekend to his family in Mumbai.
Sharing his opinion on the new guidelines, he said, “As it is people were earlier breaking rules and travelling at a speed limit higher than what was prescribed. This official declaration will only give them further opporunity to exploit the rules.
The motorist who drove at 120km/h when the limit was 80-100km/h, will now exceed the speed limits even more. A slight mistake at this speed can lead to a tragic accident.
I do not see the point here. Neither are the roads good enough to race on, nor do people have the basic sense to follow rules and drive sensibly!” he adds.
Reach her at loveleen@pune365.com or tweet @KaurKaur18
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