Bengaluru: Despite orders from the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, many car and bike owners continue to fit fancy crash guards or bull bars on their vehicles, thereby posing a risk to other vehicles and pedestrians. The ministry had recently written a letter to state governments calling for strict action against use of such unauthorised fittings.
Traffic expert M.N. Srihari, who is also an advisor to the state government, said, “Serious action should be taken against people fitting such crash guards, as well as shop owners who install them. Why are they being so careless about the pedestrians’ safety?”
The letter stated that any fitment of the crash guard on vehicles poses serious safety concerns to pedestrians, including the occupants of vehicle. This unauthorised fitting is a violation of Section 52 and can also be penalized under Section 190 & 191 of Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), 1988.
People who install such fitments are just worried about safe guarding their cars, bikes and nothing else. “The transport department should immediately issue a notice and ask them to remove such fitting in their vehicles, “ Srihari added.
Section 52 of MVA says no alterations will be allowed and the vehicle structure should not vary with original speciation by the manufacturer and the one contained in the registration certificate.
K.T. Halaswamy, Deputy Commissioner for Transport and senior RTO officer said, “Most of the vehicles owners who have fitted crash guards hail from villages. There is regular checking and we have asked our inspectors to keep an eye on such vehicles.”
The penalty is between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000, or imprisonment from three months to three years. We have booked many cases and told the vehicle owners to remove such fitments on the spot, Halaswamy added.
If in case your vehicle has any such additional crash guard or bull bars, get the approval from the registering authority for such alterations with the prescribed fee or else be ready to pay the penalty.
