Chennai: The speed of tankers plying in the city limits will be limited to 35 kmph by day and 40 kmph at night, according to an advisory issued by the Chennai city traffic police top brass.
The move is believed to have com consequent to the recent accident caused by a water tanker lorry in which three girls from Chellammal College for Women died on Anna Salai.
The installation of speed governors and side guards are among the major points that were deliberated at the meeting of representatives of confederations of water, oil, and sewerage tanker lorry owners associations and police officers here.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) - Abhay Kumar Singh chaired the meeting. The speed restriction of 35 kmph will be in place between 7 am and 10 pm and it will be relaxed to 40 kmph between 10 pm and 7 am. The advisory also warned that the drivers should never allow their cleaners assisting them in driving to operate the vehicle.
“Tankers plying in the city should have a valid ‘fitness certificate’. Before operating the tanker every time, the vehicle's operational efficiency should be checked.
The lorry owners were instructed to check the physical fitness on their drivers besides ensuring that vehicles were not operated when they were in an inebriated condition. The use of 'air-horns' was barred as it might scare pedestrians and other motorists to lose control of their vehicle. The vehicles should be operated in the stipulated times allotted to them,” is also part of the advisory issued.
The lorry owners had agreed to comply with the advisory and also to verify the criminal antecedents of their drivers before employment.
On October 13, three students — Chithra (19) of Tiruvottiyur, C. Asha Shruthi (20) of Pulianthope and Gayathri (20) of Alappakkam, Porur, were killed after a speeding water tanker ploughed into pedestrians walking along Anna Salai.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had called for a report into the incident from the State's Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP).
