The Hindu : Front Page : Aug. 1 deadline for reflective stickers

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Wednesday, Jul 22, 2009
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Aug. 1 deadline for reflective stickers

Special Correspondent

Heavy vehicles should install speed governors before Independence Day

Common reason for majority of accidents was wrong parking: Peter
Vehicle owners should make sure the right speed governor was installed

J. Raymond Peter

HYDERABAD: Concerned over the increasing number of accidents at night, the government has decided to strictly implement the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. For starters, it will ensure that all vehicles had reflective radium stickers before August 1 and heavy vehicles were installed with speed governors before Independence Day.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, Transport Commissioner J. Raymond Peter said August 1 was fixed as the deadline for all vehicles, specifically heavy motor vehicles to have the stickers; and August 15 for them to install speed governors. Speed would be locked at 65 km per hour for trucks and buses, while for school buses, it would be 50 kmph.

He said while a majority of accidents occurred at nights, the most common reason was wrong parking, specially of vehicles that neither had adequate reflective stickers or had their parking lights on. This made it difficult for drivers to avoid accidents, more so because drivers had little time to take evasive action, with almost zero visibility.

While vehicles over 3.5 tonnes of weight should have red stickers on the rear and white at the front, ten-tonners and more should have red at the rear, white on the front and yellow stickers on the sides.

‘C’ mark

Costing between Rs.1,200 and Rs.1,800 depending on size of the vehicle, the stickers would help highlight the vehicle’s presence in the dark, he said, adding that an indelible ‘C’ mark and the logo of the company were needed.

Volvo buses

Mr. Peter said the onus was on vehicle owners to ensure the right kind of speed governor was installed.

The cost ranged from Rs.12,000 upwards, he said, adding that if provided with a valid reason, the deadline would be extended. As for Volvo buses, he said they had their own special mechanism which could only be tuned by the company representatives. “We will write to the Volvo headquarters in Sweden,” he said.

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