Speed-limit crackdowns by cops tripping on ambiguity?

HYDERABAD: While cops are using speed laser guns to put break on speedsters, many find it unfair that they are issued challans for speed when they haven’t been told what the limit is.

Apart from some VIP roads, there is hardly a thoroughfare in the city that has signs stating the speed limit.

“Except Outer Ring Road, Airport road at Shamshabad and few other places, there are hardly speed limit signs anywhere in the city. It is not fair that we are asked to pay fines for over-speeding when there are no speed limit signs or proper lane markings on city roads,” said Pratik Agarwal, an engineering student.



In some cases, commuters were baffled when they received challans, as they were not aware of any speed limit on some particular roads.

Karthik Shetty (name changed), a 35-year-old photographer, was caught by traffic cops in Mehdipatnam and fined. He was puzzled when he received the challan because he was wearing a seat belt and following all traffic rules. The traffic police told him that he was being fined for over-speeding. He argued with the cops about lack of speed limit sign on the road, but to no avail.

The much-hyped speed laser gun system created a lot of buzz, as people came to know that the equipment was being installed at various spots to catch those over-speeding. “The job of the authorities cannot be limited to just installing fancy equipment. They need to create awareness by installing speed limit signs on every road. They cannot penalise us, if they do not tell us what the speed limit is,” said Raghu Goud, a cab driver.

Road safety experts feel that there is an urgent need to make citizens aware about speed limits and then enforce rules. “They installed a speed laser gun on the Tarnaka - Mettuguda road on Friday, but there is no speed limit sign or lane marking on the road. How will people know the correct speed limit if there is no signage?” said Vinod Kumar Kanumala, founder of the NGO, Indian Federation of Road Safety.