THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said that all vehicles, including that of ministers, that violate speed limits will be booked hereafter.
A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will be held on June 24 to discuss the steps for strict enforcement of traffic rules, the minister said after reviewing a meeting on road safety drives.
At present, no vehicles, including that of ministers, are exempted from speed restrictions. But the police and motor vehicles authorities exempt many vehicles that travel with beacon lights.
“As per rules, there is no exception for any vehicles with regard to speed. But in case of vehicles of ministers as well as ambulance and fire service vehicles, fine will be imposed only after considering the purpose for speeding,” said a senior motor vehicles department official.
Sources at the police control room said that memos were occasionally issued to vehicles of some ministers, senior police officers, including DGPs, and district collectors. There were incidents of ministers' vehicles fatally knocking down people.
Meanwhile, state police chief T.P. Senkumar has directed the cops to end the practice of VVIPs and senior police officers being given a smooth ride even on busy roads by clocking other vehicles.
A fresh circular issued by Mr. Senkumar also directed the cops to ensure that all traffic rules, including parking, use of horn and overtaking, were made applicable to all vehicles, including that of police officers.
Except in case of emergency situations and security reasons, the practice of blocking traffic for long time for the movement of VVIPs should be done away with.
Information regarding VVIPs’ traffic should be passed on to the traffic control rooms in advance so that arrangements could be made for hassle-free movement of their vehicles at junctions without blocking other vehicles for a long time.
The police chief also advised his subordinates to obey traffic rules. The practice of turning off traffic signals and blocking other vehicles for making way for senior police officers and police vehicles violating traffic signals and other road rules cause a bad image about the entire police force among the public. In case of emergency situations, police officers should turn on beacon lights and sirens, he said.
