Madras High Court overrules Centre’s notification, reduces max speed on expressways from 120 kmph to 80 kmph

Indicating that over speeding has been one of the main reasons of accidents on highways, the court commanded the authorities to bring the speed limit down to 80 km per hour as the upper limit. This is in accordance to the notification issued on August 5, 2014.

A division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran (since retired) and Justice T V Thamilselvi refused to accept this stand and noted that when over speeding is the major cause of road accidents, it is not known how improved road infrastructure and engine technology would lessen the frequency of accidents.

Better engine technology would always be another reason for uncontrolled speed and thereby more accidents, added the court.

The court suggested that gadgets like speed gun, speed indication display and drones can be used to mark speedy vehicles and punish the driver.

The court said, “Violators of road traffic rules should be strictly punished in accordance with law. Vehicles with high speed engines should be calibrated in such a manner the vehicle does not exceed the permitted speed limit.”

These orders were passed by the court while providing compensation to a lady dentist who sustained 90% in a road accident and her two children. Compensatory money of Rs 18.4 lakh awarded by a tribunal was raised up to Rs 1.5 crore by court.

An MTC bus, in 2013 hit the victim while she was driving her two-wheeler on Kancheepuram road.

The judges advised that the government constitute special courts to deal with traffic offences and accident claim cases so that the claims and crimes arising out of such cases can be dealt with by special courts altogether.

(With inputs from TOI)