No speed governors, no checking by authorities
Representational image
Kozhikode: Despite the district administration taking up several efforts to contain overspeeding and rash driving of private buses, there’s no letup. It poses a grave threat to life and property.
Private buses, especially on the Kozhikode-Kannur and Kozhikode–Thrissur routes, are notorious for rash driving and the authorities now remain mute spectators.
The speed governors, made mandatory for buses, remain useless, and they continue to speed beyond the legal limits.
When the regional transport officials try to take action against errant drivers, the private buses call flash strikes and gets away with it.
Drivers say they would not get passengers if they run within the prescribed speed limits. However, RTO officials say their reasons for rash driving and overspeeding are far from the truth.
“We have given decent time gap between two buses on the same route. But when the time gap is increased, the buses stop for a longer time at the stops and then speed to finish in time. Most of the private drivers are very young, and they find fun in driving dangerously,” an RTO inspector told Deccan Chronicle.
The RTO officials, however, do not check the effectiveness of speed governors. “There are many ways to tamper with them and none of the private buses now comply with the limits on the speed governors. RT officials and police have stopped checking it long time back,” private bus driver Satheesh Kumar said.
Sources in RTO say the private bus owners’ lobby is adamant, and their combined strength stops the officials from acting.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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