CHENNAI: Issues pertaining to overloading, fixing of speed governors and speed limit on various categories of roads in the country are engaging the attention of authorities as part of overall efforts towards road safety.

Enquiries reveal there are problems relating to enforcement of norms with regard to overloading, fixing of speed governors and stipulating speed limit for vehicles. Besides studying the system and procedures with regard to the three main issues, a committee set up for the purpose will go into road safety issues.

Transport Department officials say with regard to overloading, a major constraint being faced during enforcement is offloading the excess weight from trucks at transporter's cost as per rules. Offloading is possible in the case of divisible goods. In the case of others, it is practically impossible. The problem is more if, for instance, the consignment is a chemical. Human safety and protection of consignment becomes a major problem. Adequate number of cranes is required.

There is a need for integrated checkposts on inter-State borders with adequate facilities for offloading excess quantity and storing it safely. Similar space for safe storage is required on national highways within States.

There is no uniform policy for fixing speed governors in the country. Officials say the instrument will help reduce accidents due to overspeeding, particularly at night. But, there is objection to the move from some quarters. Recently, there was a strong opposition when Kerala insisted on speed governors.

Another problem relates to fixing of speed limit for various categories of roads in States.

Appropriate measures for enforcement of norms pertaining to the three major issues are required.

It is also pointed out that there is a need for proper mechanism to formulate an effective National Road Safety Policy.

The committee was set up after a meeting of the National Road Safety Council at Coimbatore on April 21. While Transport Minister K. N. Nehru will be its chairman, Transport Ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, G. S. Bali and Mathew T. Thomas, Additional Chief Secretary of West Bengal Sumantra Ray Choudhury and Additional Director-General of Police, (State Traffic Planning Cell), Tamil Nadu, K. R. Shyamsundar, will be the members. The Secretary, Union Department of Road Transport and Highways, will be the coordinator.

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