Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Restriction on use of headlights will stay: police

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Sept. 25. Even as a controversy is brewing over the decision to restrict the use of headlights by vehicle owners on certain roads in the city, police have made it clear that the decision will not be withdrawn.

However, they have said that the rule can be relaxed for vehicles that do not have parking lights.

Police say that they have to implement the rule as it is based on a court order. Besides, dazzling and high beam headlights resulted in accidents in and around the city.

Though motorists have been asked to use low beam lights, they continued to use high beam and dazzling headlights. These lights "temporarily blinded'' other drivers resulting in accidents.

The Commissioner of Police, S. Mariswamy, told The Hindu on Thursday that the notification restricting the use of dazzling headlights was originally issued when P.G. Harlankar was the Commissioner of Police. It was only now that police had decided to enforce it.

He said more roads would be added to the list where the use of headlights had been restricted. He, however, clarified that motorists could use headlights on roads where the use of headlights was restricted in case of a power failure or if streetlights failed.

However, the new rule has left motorists unhappy. Owners of old vehicles, particularly two-wheelers, said their vehicles did not have parking lights and it would be difficult to get them installed now.

They pointed out that the electrical circuits of their vehicles would have to be revamped if parking lights were to be installed. This would not only entail spending money but would also result in a higher wear and tear.

Even those who have vehicles with parking lights are not happy. They claimed that many roads in the city were substandard and had innumerable accident spots apart from potholes, dug-up portions, open manholes, badly designed and ill-lit circles and intersections, unscientifically designed road humps and "invisible road medians.''

Good business

Meanwhile, auto repair garages and shops selling auto accessories reported good business as owners rushed to get parking lights and tail lamps fixed to their vehicles in their attempt to beat the deadline.

Owners of old two-wheelers, particularly scooters manufactured before 1990, were at a loss, as their vehicles do not have parking lights. The restriction has also come as a shock to operators of three-wheel goods carriers and autorickshaws and lorries more than 10 years old. These vehicles do not have parking lights.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Residents worried over delay in roadwork
• Youth stabbed to death
• Search in city for former members of ISKCON, Kolkata
• Restriction on use of headlights will stay: police

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu