In a decision that is bound to raise the hackles of motorists, the city police have limited the speed of vehicles on Tank Bund to 30 kmph. The speed limit is to check the increasing number of road accidents on Tank Bund, police authorities argue.
While the new move appears to be a one-stop solution for checking accidents, the capabilities of the police in enforcing the speed limit are debatable. Many motorists, when asked about their opinion, were of the view that limiting speed on just the Tank Bund might not be the solution.
What needs to be done is preparing a scientific traffic management strategy of segregating the traffic flows, improving signage, providing zebra crossings for pedestrians and effective implementation of rules.
Notification
Disregarding all these practical aspects, the Commissioner of Police issued a notification fixing the maximum speed limit on upper Tank Bund at 30 kmph “in view of the road accidents…and for the safety of pedestrians.”
“When the thrust of traffic management is aimed at increasing the average speed, imposing speed limit on a key stretch can be counterproductive. This could lead to traffic jams,” P. Krishna Kumar, a government employee, observed.
Apart from this, there were also apprehensions about the methods to be adopted to enforce the speed limit. “Currently there is no proper infrastructure on Tank Bund.
Traffic police are unable to check the incidence of overtaking even though it is not allowed there. Will it be feasible for them to implement the speed limit, that too without the infrastructure like dividers and speed breakers?” another motorist questioned.
Instead, policemen would take this as an excuse to impose challans on motorists, he feared.
Difficult proposition
When confronted, police officials too admitted that it is difficult to regulate the speeds.
At present traffic police have only one speed laser gun and it would not be enough to implement the speed limit, a senior police official said.
Educate public
“We have to first educate the public about the speed limit. Then there is a need to provide blinkers, sign boards and speed breakers or rumble strips along with procuring more speed laser guns,” he said.
The Motor Vehicle Act stipulates that a motorist can be fined up to Rs. 1,000 for exceeding the prescribed speed limits.
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