Is speed governor the cure for road accidents?

CaAT · 9th May 2008, 12:05

Read the news in today's Indian Express about government making it mandatory to fit speed governors on all vehicles (old and new) to curb increasing road accidents.

Excerpts :

Quote:

In a bid to check road accidents, the Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways is planning to make it mandatory for all vehicles, including personal cars, to be equipped with speed governors and fog lights. On the other hand, it is set to increase the maximum speed limits for all vehicles.

The changes have been proposed in the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill which is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament in the Monsoon Session. The parliamentary standing committee has already given its approval.

Before the Bill is passed, the ministry will notify revised speed limits for all vehicle categories. For cars, the maximum speed limit will be 100 kmph on expressways, 80 kmph on four or six-laned highways, 60 kmph on two-laned highways and 50 kmph in major district roads and urban arterials.

Link

Your thoughts?

VJ_MAVRICK · 9th May 2008, 12:09

Might be a way to curb accidents but am unsure when will this be implemented. I dont like being speed governed even though i aint a speedy guy. These better be in the cabs and buses. Still i feel implementation will be a problem.

Bass&Trouble · 9th May 2008, 12:12

Does this mean that cabs and autos will now have to stand still?

amtak · 9th May 2008, 12:14

I don't understand why this?

appuchan · 9th May 2008, 12:21

Wow, a good idea to stop accidents! In fact the speed will need to be gradually reduced to almost walking speed (3 kmph) over a period and they will still find vehicles ramming into each other.

After that it will be pure bliss, working/traveling... etc from home. We will be back to the era of using horses, elephants and camels for transport

. And each of those animals will have speed governing belts around their legs!

eclectix 1st · 9th May 2008, 12:25

Our beloved Govt should first start Enforcing the existing rules. Maybe if they do that, there wont be any need of Implementing new rules.

If they seriously start regulating & enforcing rules like

Lane discipline
Signaling
Usage of Hi-Beam headlights in the city
DUI (with proper breadth analysers and legal limits)
Pollution (half the trucks and Govt buses will get off the streets )

most of the problems will cease to exist.

CaAT · 9th May 2008, 12:29

Quote:

Our beloved Govt should first start enforcing the existing rules.

Exactly, my point.

The speed governor thing is a remedy worse than the disease itself. I also wonder how the auto industry would react to a regulation like this.

Any other countries where they have such devices fitted in vehicles for personal use?

Maverick1977 · 9th May 2008, 12:35

Speed Governors have been installed in the past by a few manufacturers, Tata Sumo used to have one. However most of these used to be removed by their owners even before the 1st service. Also the biggest disadvantage was that the Governor used to kick-in & put the engine to sleep right when you were overtaking an extremely long trailer on the highway. Also how will the officials check if its been installed or not or for that matter its even functioning or not.
This could be another gimmick of letting a particular co. make a fast buck. Sad...very sad

tsk1979 · 9th May 2008, 13:33

A 100kmph governer will not prevent 100kmph driving on narrow roads, and you will still have accidents.
this is the govt taking the easy way out.
As for trucks at 80kmph, its laughable.
Most trucks go at 40-50kmph on expressways due to overloading, and sometimes drive on wrong side of the road.
I wonder how will a governor help that.
And what about CBU cars.

benbsb29 · 9th May 2008, 13:39

LOL !! Another smart guy bureaucrat, actually putting his brains to some strain by coming up with this?!

reignofchaos · 9th May 2008, 14:02

Speed governors on personal cars is a complete LOL. Are they retarded or what. Imagine a BMW M3 or an EVO limited to 100kph

.

madan80 · 9th May 2008, 15:49

like with everythign - the governer will be present- but it intenally, it will be defunct. how are they going to check speeind witha governer?

mjothi · 9th May 2008, 16:10

This is just to help selling the remaining units the company produced

So, 100KMPH on a express way will make sure that no accidents are happening?
Possibly they are mistaken with rash driving with over speeding.

VJ_MAVRICK · 9th May 2008, 16:15

On a lighter note car companies can advertise that their cars are fully loaded now and can avail the NUMERO UNO facility "Speed Governor installed" and then the admakers make the ads picking up SRK or so saying "Maine Chalaya yeh Gaadi, jismey Speed Governor hain..Kya aapney chalayaaa ?

(sorry Dippy bhai no offence only light hearted joke)

KMT · 9th May 2008, 16:18

We are not used to respecting road rules in India.
Even monkeys & donkeys can get a Drivers Lic...I have seen them driving numerous lorries and busses!!!!
For our level of rules just Ambys and Fiats are OK.
I reckon speed restrictions are the only way in the short term.

A more sensible option is for the Govt to make everyone undergo driving lessons again and apply for new DLs.....thus addressing the problem through education.

It takes just a one dumb guy to stuff up someone elses life in an accident...so now all of us who adhere to rules now have to pay by driving at 40kph....

9th May 2008, 12:09	#2
VJ_MAVRICK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,239 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	Might be a way to curb accidents but am unsure when will this be implemented. I dont like being speed governed even though i aint a speedy guy. These better be in the cabs and buses. Still i feel implementation will be a problem.
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 12:12	#3
Bass&Trouble Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 2,754 Thanked: 124 Times	Does this mean that cabs and autos will now have to stand still?
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 12:14	#4
amtak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai - The city of Sea Link!!! Posts: 2,915 Thanked: 899 Times View My Garage	I don't understand why this?
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 12:21	#5
appuchan BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangy Posts: 642 Thanked: 27 Times	Wow, a good idea to stop accidents! In fact the speed will need to be gradually reduced to almost walking speed (3 kmph) over a period and they will still find vehicles ramming into each other. After that it will be pure bliss, working/traveling... etc from home. We will be back to the era of using horses, elephants and camels for transport . And each of those animals will have speed governing belts around their legs!
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 12:25	#6
eclectix 1st BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 381 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	Our beloved Govt should first start *Enforcing* the existing rules. Maybe if they do that, there wont be any need of Implementing new rules. If they seriously start regulating & enforcing rules like Lane discipline Signaling Usage of Hi-Beam headlights in the city DUI (with proper breadth analysers and legal limits) Pollution (half the trucks and Govt buses will get off the streets ) most of the problems will cease to exist. Last edited by eclectix 1st : 9th May 2008 at 12:39.
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 12:35	#8
Maverick1977 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 997 Thanked: 906 Times View My Garage	Speed Governors have been installed in the past by a few manufacturers, Tata Sumo used to have one. However most of these used to be removed by their owners even before the 1st service. Also the biggest disadvantage was that the Governor used to kick-in & put the engine to sleep right when you were overtaking an extremely long trailer on the highway. Also how will the officials check if its been installed or not or for that matter its even functioning or not. This could be another gimmick of letting a particular co. make a fast buck. Sad...very sad
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 13:33	#9
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	A 100kmph governer will not prevent 100kmph driving on narrow roads, and you will still have accidents. this is the govt taking the easy way out. As for trucks at 80kmph, its laughable. Most trucks go at 40-50kmph on expressways due to overloading, and sometimes drive on wrong side of the road. I wonder how will a governor help that. And what about CBU cars. Last edited by tsk1979 : 9th May 2008 at 13:35.
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 13:39	#10
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,968 Thanked: 13,223 Times View My Garage	LOL !! Another smart guy bureaucrat, actually putting his brains to some strain by coming up with this?!
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 14:02	#11
reignofchaos Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,542 Thanked: 2,450 Times View My Garage	Speed governors on personal cars is a complete LOL. Are they retarded or what. Imagine a BMW M3 or an EVO limited to 100kph .
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 15:49	#12
madan80 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 1,360 Thanked: 80 Times View My Garage	like with everythign - the governer will be present- but it intenally, it will be defunct. how are they going to check speeind witha governer?
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 16:10	#13
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	This is just to help selling the remaining units the company produced So, 100KMPH on a express way will make sure that no accidents are happening? Possibly they are mistaken with rash driving with over speeding.
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 16:15	#14
VJ_MAVRICK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,239 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	On a lighter note car companies can advertise that their cars are fully loaded now and can avail the NUMERO UNO facility "Speed Governor installed" and then the admakers make the ads picking up SRK or so saying "Maine Chalaya yeh Gaadi, jismey Speed Governor hain..Kya aapney chalayaaa ? (sorry Dippy bhai no offence only light hearted joke)
	() Thanks

9th May 2008, 16:18	#15
KMT BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Coorg Posts: 455 Thanked: 877 Times	We are not used to respecting road rules in India. Even monkeys & donkeys can get a Drivers Lic...I have seen them driving numerous lorries and busses!!!! For our level of rules just Ambys and Fiats are OK. I reckon speed restrictions are the only way in the short term. A more sensible option is for the Govt to make everyone undergo driving lessons again and apply for new DLs.....thus addressing the problem through education. It takes just a one dumb guy to stuff up someone elses life in an accident...so now all of us who adhere to rules now have to pay by driving at 40kph....
	() Thanks