National Safety Guarantee Scheme? Law to have speed governors in all vehicles

“Once implemented, all motor vehicle manufacturers will have to ensure that the rules are followed. All new vehicles will have to come equipped with speed governors, as per specified speed limits for each vehicle category, and fog lights. The existing vehicles will also have to be upgraded to ensure the same within a specified period,” said a senior ministry official.

Before the Bill is passed, the ministry will notify revised speed limits for all vehicle categories. For cars, the maximum speed limit will be 100 kmph on expressways, 80 kmph on four or six-laned highways, 60 kmph on two-laned highways and 50 kmph in major district roads and urban arterials.

For two-wheelers, the ministry plans to increase the maximum speed limit from the existing 50 kmph to 80 kmph on expressways, 70 kmph on four or six-laned highways, 60 kmph on two-laned highways and 50 kmph on other roads. The same speed limits have been set for commercial light/ medium/ heavy vehicles which have a limit of 65 kmph at present.

For three-wheelers, the highest speed limit is proposed at 60 kmph.

The ministry has proposed higher speed limits in view of better road infrastructure, improved automobile technology and taking into consideration the fact that the existing speed limits are 17 years old. So a speed governor installed in a car will ensure that it doe not run at over 100 kmph while a truck will not be able to speed above 80 kmph.

According to experts, there are two types of speed governors for vehicles. The first is an external device which ensures that the accelerator is not pushed beyond a set limit. The second is an internal mechanism fitted during the manufacturing stage which either involves a microchip that pre-sets the vehicle’s speed, or a fuel governing system which reduces the flow of fuel to the engine if the prescribed speed limit is exceeded.

While heavy vehicles through Europe and parts of Canada are equipped with speed governors, their usage is not so common in personal vehicles.

“This is not at all a good solution, because a speed governor does not allow a vehicle good acceleration, which interferes in its optimal functioning,” said Rohit Baluja, a traffic expert who has worked on the amendments to the MV Act. The parliamentary committee, however, felt that these are “important safety requirements”.

India ‘s road accident tally was the second highest in the world in 2005, with over 96,000 people killed. But the toll rose to 1.05 lakh last year, making it the highest in the world.