The speed limits on roads may be reconsidered in view of ever increasing number of vehicles causing traffic snarl. On most roads in a city like Delhi, the prescribed speed limit continues to be what it was 20-30 years back and even though certain stretches of National Highways have been designed for 120-kmh vehicular movement, the permitted maximum speed limit is 100 kmph. A Parliamentary
Panel has recommended revision of speed limit to deal with the situation.
The 31-member Parliam-entary Standing Committee on Ministry of Transport, Tourism and Culture, headed by TMC MP Mukul Roy, has pointed out that speed limit on roads are up to 80 kmph whereas in many cases the roads were designed for a speed up to 120 kmph. The maximum speed limit permitted on National Highways is 100 kmph.
The Delhi Traffic Police notification issued in 2011 prescribed that for private vehicles, including cars, jeeps, two-wheelers among others, the speed bracket is 50-70 kmph. For all other transport vehicles, including autorickshaws, the maximum limit is a uniform 40 kmph.
The panel further recommended that the Government should prescribe inbuilt speed governors in vehicles suitable for Indian roads. If the recommendation is accepted by the Government, vehicles manufactured in India would have limited acceleration capability.
“The vehicles manufactured in India are capable of gaining more than 180 km per hour and in some cases can go beyond 240 km per hour. These vehicles act like a missile or rocket if involved in an accident,” the panel noted.
It said since automakers in India were following the standards and technologies of foreign countries, there was a need for legislation prescribing a speed limit for Indian roads.
Reports show that 400 deaths take place every day on roads. That means one life is snuffed out every 3.6 minute due to road accidents in the country. In 2016, Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum number of road deaths (17,666), followed by Tamil Nadu (15,642), Maharashtra (13,212), Karnataka (10,856) and Rajasthan (10,510).
Inside residential areas and commercial markets, the maximum speed limit for private vehicles is 30 kmph, and 40 kmph for transport vehicles.
For private vehicles, the speed limit is 70 kmph for flyovers such as NH-8, part of NH-10 and NH-1, DND, Saleemgarh Bypass, Barapulla Nullah and Noida Toll Road. Parts of the Ring Road (from Ashram Chowk to Azadpur Flyover and Chandgi Ram Akhara to Ashram Chowk), Outer Ring Road (from Modi Mill Flyover upto Olaf Palme Marg-NH-8 and Mukarba crossing to Old Wazirabad Bridge), NH-24 and Pushta Road.
Along Outer Ring Road from Janakpuri to Mukarba Chowk and Old Wazirabad Bridge to Timar Pur light Signal, private vehicles have to remain with a speed limit of 50 kmph. Parts of the NH-1 and NH-10, NH-2, Barapulla Nullah from Fourth Avenue to Aurobindo Chowk as well as all areas between Ring Road and Outer Ring Road and the entire Trans Yamuna area have a maximum speed limit of 50 kmph.