Strong laws and periodic awareness campaigns notwithstanding, violation of traffic regulations and rules continue unabated in city limits.
Overloaded autos carrying schoolchildren beyond permissible limits and unregistered motorised fish carts without number plates speeding on the roads are a common sight in the city taking place under the very nose of the enforcement authorities.
Although there is a cap on the number of students to be transported in an autorickshaw, several vehicles continue to flout the rules with impunity.
Jam-packed autos with students jostling for space inside the three-wheeler with their school and lunch bags dangling out are a common sight in the morning and evening hours.
In some cases, students could be seen hanging precariously on the edge of the driver’s seat with their limbs dangling out posing great risk to themselves and other road users.
A few years ago, the government issued an order stating that only a maximum of five children up to the age of 14 years or not more than three adult passengers could be accommodated in an autorickshaw.
However, the GO continues to remain a dead-letter with several autos continuing to carry students beyond the permitted capacity. Imposition of fines doesn’t seem to have had a deterrent effect on the offenders.
The issue of overloading in school vehicles has time and again been raised in the Road Safety Council meetings, but the violations continue, says M.Sekaran, member, District Road Safety Council.
There should be stricter and effective implementation of rules to ensure the safety of minors, he said.
Ban on operation of motorised fish-carts on city’s thoroughfares has been a consistent plea of consumer organisations for long, he said.
The motorised fish-carts have no registration numbers and are not covered by insurance.
The drivers of such vehicles do not possess licence and on many an occasion the vehicles are overloaded, says Mr.Sekaran. These vehicles violate at least five provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, he said.
In case of accident involving a motorised fish-cart and another vehicle, the victims of both vehicles cannot claim insurance, he said.
A few years ago, the motors of these fish-carts were confiscated during sustained drives by the police.
However, things seem to have come back to square one. Enforcement authorities should confiscate the motorised fish carts keeping in mind the safety of road users, he said.
Transport Department officials say they had launched a special drive against overloading of autos carrying school students.
