Government unaware of speed device suppliers

The government has been ignorant of the manufacturers who supply the speed governor device to the vehicles in the state. 

As per an amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules-1989, it was said that vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2015 must be equipped or fitted by the vehicle manufacturer in the manufacturing stage or in the dealership stage with a speed governor (speed limiting device or speed limiting function) having a maximum pre-set speed of 80 km per hour. 

However, the transport department in a reply to a Right to Information query on the approved list of speed governor device manufacturers said that the “list of manufacturers has not been provided by the testing agencies.”

To another question on the validity period of such approvals to the manufacturers, once again the department responded “the list of validity period of such approvals has also not yet been received from the testing agencies.” 

Advocate SS Balaji, who filed the RTI said, “If the speed governors installed in the vehicles are not authenticated, the purpose behind the Central Motor Vehicles Act is not fulfilled.” 

“As per law, vehicles appearing for fitness certificate at the RTOs must be checked for speed governors by the officials. That they are not doing so has become evident from the reply of Transport authorities,” he added.

Another Advocate Saranath said, “There is lack of transparency. It is alleged that agents approach owners coming for fitness certificates and sell them the device at a lower cost.”