Clock over 130 kmph in K’taka from August 1 and get booked

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A First Information Report (FIR) will be registered against those driving over the speed of 130 kilometres per hour anywhere in Karnataka from August 1.

The Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Traffic and Road Safety) Alok Kumar on Monday said that over-speeding causes about 90 per cent of fatal accidents in the state. Citing data, he added that 155 persons sped at more than 130 kmph on the BengaluruMysuru Highway on July 25.

“From August 1, FIR will be registered against those driving vehicles above 130 kmph anywhere in Karnataka for rash and dangerous driving,” Kumar said.

He explained that under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – 281 for rash and negligent driving, once the speed limit is beyond 120 kmph, it becomes rash or dangerous driving.

NICE Road mishap cited

Kumar pointed out that in an accident on a Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Road earlier this month, three people were killed and the vehicle involved in it was clocking 160 kmph.

The Supreme Court monitoring committee on road safety took note of the accident and informed the State government that over-speeding is rampant and it is leading to loss of lives, the ADGP said.

“In the year 2022, 90 per cent of (accident) deaths in Karnataka were attributed to high speed (over-speeding). Of late, the Supreme Court monitoring committee asked us to make effective enforcement about this. In this direction, we came up with this (registration of FIR against those speeding above 130 kmph). Enforcing it would be a real challenge but we will try to do it,” Kumar said, adding that the new rule will apply to all the roads and not be only limited to highways.

“For instance, we have speed laser guns installed all along the BengaluruMysuru Highway which record vehicle speeds even at night and Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras along the highway help us in recording pictures of over-speeding vehicles, along with their speeds. So, it would be easier for us to record and book them (violators)," he said.

100 and under, speed limits vary: Kumar

Kumar informed that the speed limit on national highways across the country was 100 kmph while the state and other highways had lower speed limits.

On Expressways, the speed limit is 120 kmph which is the maximum speed limit any vehicle can be driven in the country, he said.

“In other cases too, we use speed laser guns. We have distributed 155 speed laser guns. During the day time, it is easy to record, but not so at night," he added.