Union Road Ministry asks Karnataka government to ban bull bars, crash guards for violating Motor Vehicles act

BENGALURU: Bull bars and crash guards, found almost on every other sports utility vehicle or cruiser bikes in the city, are illegal according to the Motor Vehicles Act. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) now wants the state administrations to crack down on violators. But this may be easier said than done. The sheer number of vehicles which will have to be stopped could make enforcement a tough task for the Transport Department or the traffic police.

A popular attachment to large vehicles, bull bars are used largely to ensure that the front of the car does not get damaged when involved in an accident. However, these are against the Motor Vehicles Act rules which state that vehicles cannot be altered to specifications other than that originally given by the manufacturer.

But a random check on Tuesday by Express revealed that these bull bars are popular not just among private vehicle owners but adorn several government-owned vehicles as well. When drivers were asked if they preferred driving with the guards, they said it helped prevent minor scratches and fender-benders in a city which is notorious for its bumper-to-bumper traffic.

“We have to answer for small scratches on the car as well as major accidents. In such cases, if the bar is damaged instead of the body, it can be easily replaced or repaired. The boards of the departments are also fitted on these bars instead of the chassis to avoid damaging the vehicle,” said a driver with a government department who did not want to be named.

Currently, there are no plans to enforce the rule any time soon, according to Transport Department officials, who are waiting for the official notice to reach them. “I am yet to take a look at the notice before deciding on the enforcement,” Transport Commissioner B Dayananda told The New Indian Express.