Following public complaints of illegal use of fancy lights and high-beam LED fittings on vehicles, the enforcement squad of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD), in a series of inspections recently, found 485 instances in Kozhikode city.
Squad members said the additional light fittings and alterations were mostly found on new models of motorbikes during their inspections on the national and State highways.
“We launched the special drive on March 19 noticing confidential complaints on the increase in the number of vehicles fitted with the high-beam lights and their role in causing flash blindness on highways. In the inspection, it was found true,” said Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement) P.M. Shabeer. He said the drive would be continued with the support of five squads.
₹1.25 lakh collected
Within the last three weeks alone, the MVD squad collected ₹1.25 lakh as compounding fee from the violators. Most of the cases were tracked during the inspections carried out on the Ramanattukara-Vengalam stretch of the Kozhikode bypass road. The squads also removed the spot lights, customised LED lights and other ornamental light fittings on the vehicles on the spot.
In the wake of noticing increasing incidents, the enforcement squad is also planing to secure a Lux Metre to scientifically measure the intensity of the lights and track more cases. As of now, they are mainly tracking vehicles with visibly altered lights and additional LED fittings.
Also, the department has plans to increase the frequency of checking against road rule violations with the joining of the newly recruited Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors. Thus, the existing number of five squads will be increased to 12 in Kozhikode regional transport office limit alone.
“The additional lights can directly fall on the eyes of drivers in the opposite direction and instantly cause flash blindness. Many are yet to be aware of the big risk involved in such amateur practices,” said Mr. Shabeer.