Kochi: With night driving turning out to be a nightmare for motorists, thanks to high beam lights of incoming vehicles obstructing vision, the Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) has decided to acquire 10 interceptor vehicles mounted with lux metre, a device used to measure brightness.
The vehicles, costing Rs 30 lakh each, is part of the action plan being prepared to launch an intense campaigning against vehicles sporting auxiliary and LED lights and also to discourage use of high beam by drivers, especially in city areas.
“A proposal is before the Transport Commissioner to acquire 10 modern interceptors. For the first time, they will be fitted with lux meters. Many vehicles are now found using halogen and LED lights which are damaging to one’s retina itself. Nearly 300 cases were registered during a four-day inspection held at Ernakulam against use of high beam lights during night,” said Ernakulam RTO P H Sadiq Ali, who is in the technical committee for acquiring equipment.
Upon getting caught, the motorists will have to dole out a fine ranging upto Rs 1000. If the vehicles are found fitting with auxiliary lights illegally, then the vehicle will be seized and can again used only after removing such high beam lights.
“The trend of using high discharge lights is now common. This has turned night driving into a nightmarish experience. Drivers have to brave powerful lights, more than ten times the normal ones, while on road. HID, Xenon lights and project lights are the ones most commonly used,”the officer said.
Besides the lux metrers, the off-white and blue all-weather interceptors will also be equipped with roof-mounted surveillance camera, digital video recorder and playback equipment, breathalyser, laptop, printer, siren, and microphone. The laser gun, installed in the rear of the vehicle, can trace number plate from 200 metre away during daytime, and 80 metre at night. It can be made operational when the vehicle is running and stationary. The GPS module will help record the exact place of checking. The surveillance camera can be tilted 360 degrees and has video mode.
