[Overspeeding] Reconsider decision to raise speed limits, fit speed governors, recalibrate imported vehicles: Madras High Court

A motor accident case that is stated to have involved a rashly driven bus has prompted the Madras High Court to issue various directions to control overspeeding in the interest of the public..Among other suggestions, the Court asked the Central Government to reconsider its April 2018 decision to increase maximum speed limits, given that the "biggest culprit for road traffic accidents as evident by data is 'over speeding'".."India has got only 1% of world’s vehicle population which accounts for 6% of the world’s road traffic accidents, according to a data from 'World Health Organisations’ Report - 2018' ... Inspite of knowing the fact that over speeding is the main killer and responsible for most of the accidents, the Government, for various reasons, particularly, for commercial reasons has increased the speed limit resulting in more death", the Court remarked in its order..A Bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and Abdul Quddhose proceeded to implead the Union Ministry of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Director-General of Police, State of Tamil Nadu before issuing the following directions:.1. The Central Government shall reconsider the decision taken in April 2018 to increase the speed limit and reduce the speed limit.2. Speed governors should be fitted and made part of the vehicles, including two-wheeler, as per Rule 118 of Motor Vehicle Rules at the manufacturing stage itself.3. Modern gadgets like speed gun, speed indication display and drones should be used to find speeding vehicles to punish the driver. 4. Violators of road traffic rules should be strictly punished in accordance with law.5. Imported vehicles with high-speed engines should be calibrated to ensure that the vehicle does not exceed the permitted speed limit.6. Driving license seekers have to be taken to hospitals, where the accident victims are taking treatment, so that evil consequences of violation of road rules would be understood properly through first hand information.7. Speed breakers should have been laid, in line with the road safety measures, so that speed breakers themselves becoming black spots could be avoided. 8. Special courts should be constituted to deal with traffic offences and accident claim cases so that criminal case arising out of the accident and the (compensation) claim arising out of the same accident could be dealt with by the Special Courts together comprehensively.9. The State Government is directed to rope in the celebrities to spread the message of road discipline through media, as they also have the social responsibility for an orderly and disciplined society.10. The State Government is directed to arrange lectures by experts, doctors, social workers etc. to the licence seekers, stressing upon the necessity to follow road rules, before driving licences are given.11. The authorities are directed to identify Accident prone zone/ black spots and to station the mobile trauma units/ Ambulances there. 12. The Government authorities shall illuminate intersections on the Highways with high power lights to warn drivers about the intersections which would make drivers to slow their vehicles..As far as the motor accident case triggering the discussion was concerned, the High Court enhanced the compensation payable to the victim and her family from Rs. 18, 43, 908 to Rs. 1,50,00,000 (Rs 1 crore and fifty lakh). The claimant had been driving a two-wheeler when her vehicle collided with a bus. .On account of the accident, the woman suffered complete paraplegia. Her disability was assessed at 90 percent and her loss of income was assessed by the High Court at 100 percent. .After confirming the motor accident tribunal's findings that there was negligence on the part of the bus driver, the Court proceeded to enhance the compensation payable to the claimant under the following heads:Loss of income: Rs. 91,80,000 Loss of amenities: Rs. 3,00,000Loss of marital bliss: Rs. 4,00,000 (Rs 2 lakhs each to the claimant and her husband)Loss of mother's normal care and guidance: Rs.2,00,000 was awarded after impleading the claimant's daughter to the proceedings.Transportation: Rs. 1,00,000 Extra nourishment: Rs. 1,00,000Medical expenses: The earlier awarded sum of Rs11,50,548, based on medical bills, was confirmed.Attendant charges: Rs. 22,50,000Pain and suffering: Rs. 3,00,000Future medical expenses: Rs. 10,00,000.With this, the motor accident case was closed. However, the matter has been posted on August 2 for reporting compliance with the various directions issued to the State authorities on the larger issue of over speeding. .[Read Judgment]