In India about two
lakh people die in road accidents every year. Major causes of road
accidents are over speeding, faulty road engineering, drunken driving, over
loading, driving in wrong direction etc.
But whatever may be the cause of
accident fatality in an accident is due to high speed. It is only the high speed
due to which an accident becomes fatal.
We have laws in our country which governs speed limit for
different types of vehicles as per type of road on which the vehicle is plying.
Like in a city speed limit for two wheelers is usually 40kph and for four
wheelers it is 60 kph. On highways this limit increases, like for cars etc. it
goes up to 90 kph.
The enforcement of prescribed speed limit lies with police
department. We can find traffic police within city limits with radar guns
checking speed of various vehicles plying on the road. Over speeding drivers
are often challaned. But we rarely see such checking on highways. Most of the
fatal accidents occur at highways. Due to improved road conditions on majority
of highways and technological advancements in automobile engineering the speed
of vehicles is phenomenal these days which in turn has increased the risks of
fatal accidents manifold.
So what’s the way out? Increasing more policemen on highways
exclusively for this task checking day and night? Well ideally we should do it
but looking at the size of our country and the enormous length of highways it
is not a very practical or a feasible solution. My point is when maximum
prescribed speed limit for a vehicle as per law is 90kph then why should a
vehicle move beyond that limit anytime. Why
can’t we make a law binding automobile manufacturers to make such vehicles
which can’t move faster than prescribed speed limit?
Such a law can reduce fatality in an accident tremendously.
If max. Speed limit for a two wheeler is 40 kph then it should not go beyond
this limit at any condition. These days youngsters are in a habit of driving
motor cycles on very high speed which is dangerous not only for them but others
also who are using roads. Some bikes can even go up to 250 kph. What is the
point in allowing such bikes to move on roads? For cars etc. it can be 90kph
for heavy vehicles it can be 40-50kph. With such type of vehicles accidents
would be much less fatal than present scenario. Also manufacturers should also
be bound by law for limiting the acceleration of vehicles. What useful purpose does the acceleration of the kind 0- 100 in 3
seconds types solve? Apart from being less fatal there would be other
benefits as well. Like reduction in cost of vehicle as less powerful engines
would be required. Less fuel consumption as lesser power is required to cruise
the vehicle which in turn means less pollution. Recently honourable Supreme Court
of India has banned registration of vehicles more than 2000cc in Delhi. By
making such automobiles true spirit of apex court judgement would be followed.
Apart from saving precious human life we would also be making
a great contribution towards clean environment. Only drawback would be the
commuting time would increase but it is nothing in comparison to safe
travelling. Also it would be against business interests of powerful automobile
lobby which would exert great pressure on govt. But it is for the govt. to take
a call. I think a human life and a clean environment should be on topmost
priority for any Nation.
