After a rising number of fatal accidents caused by speeding across the state, the Karnataka Government has taken a bold step to combat rash and dangerous driving. Starting from August 1, Karnataka police will file an FIR against anyone caught driving over 130kph anywhere.

Alok Kumar, the Additional Director General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety), recently highlighted the alarming statistics behind this decision. Kumar stated that in 2022, 90 per cent of fatal accidents in Karnataka occurred due to speeding. The officer also noted several speed violations on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. He reported that 155 drivers exceeded 130 kph on the Bangalore-Mysore Highway in a single day.

A tragic accident earlier this month on a Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise prompted the state to take this decision. The severity of the accident, a car over 160 km/h crashed and claimed three lives, drew the attention of the Supreme Court monitoring committee on road safety. The court informed the state government about the critical issue of over-speeding, which needed immediate and effective enforcement.

In response, Karnataka introduced a new regulation to address the crises. An FIR will be registered against anyone speeding beyond 130 kph, whether on a city road or highway. This initiative will curb reckless driving in both cities and rural areas.

Additional Director General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety), Alok Kumar said.

“We have speed laser guns installed all along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway, which record vehicle speeds even at night. Also, Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras along the highway will help us record pictures of overspeeding vehicles, along with their speeds. So, it would be easier for us to record and book them (violators). Also, we have distributed around 155 speed laser guns.”

However, relying heavily on technology has its own set of challenges. For instance, nighttime monitoring with speed laser guns can be difficult.

Kumar also pointed out that the state’s decision aligns with national speed limits. The current speed limit on national highways across India is 100 kph. Meanwhile, expressways allow a maximum of 120 kph.

That means the new 130 kph speed limit allows some flexibility for different road conditions and driving environments.

Still, you can expect the impact of this measure to be significant. By targeting the root cause of many fatal accidents, Karnataka hopes to see a decrease in road fatalities. The state’s stance against speeding reflects its commitment to improving road safety.