The Chennai Traffic Police has launched a crackdown on over-speeding following complaints of racing/rash driving in some areas leading to road accidents and injuries to people. At least 16 special teams equipped with speed-guns were deployed on important routes since Monday to detect over-speeding.
According to Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) V.A. Ravikumar, the move followed complaints of rash and negligent driving on certain stretches where youth reportedly raced their motorcycles and cars. Besides, there was also information on incidents of over-speeding and drunk driving after 7 p.m.
Special teams were deployed along the Anna Salai, Kamarajar Salai, R.K. Salai, East Coast Road, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Ennore-Madhavaram Highway, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Road and a few other roads to check over-speeding. “Speed restrictions are already in vogue in the city. While the maximum speed limit is 25 kmph on some accident-prone stretches, it is 40 kmph in some other areas. Driving at speeds above this will be treated as an offence and a penalty of Rs. 1,500 will be levied under the category of ‘dangerous driving',” he said.
Mr. Ravikumar said traffic police teams were told to be very cautious while intercepting vehicle users. “Once over-speeding is detected, the team will alert the police beat at the next signal or the nearby patrol to intercept the suspect vehicle. If drunk driving is also established along with over-speeding, we will register a case and send the accused person to judicial custody.” The teams would monitor traffic from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from 7 p.m. till midnight every day.
Mr. Ravikumar said the traffic police had put up speed restriction signboards along all major roads in the city. Repeat offenders would be dealt with firmly. “Besides registering a case, we will also take steps to cancel the driving licence of the accused. Even one vehicle that indulges in over-speeding vehicle spoils the discipline on the road and also puts the lives of others at peril. This crackdown on over-speeding vehicles will continue.”
