Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Kochi, Nov 21 (IANS) Sounding a stern warning over rising road safety violations, the Kerala High Court on Friday viewed several video clippings posted on YouTube showing buses and goods vehicles being fitted with unauthorized LED strips, flashing name boards and flickering DJ-style lights.
Justice Anil K. A division bench of Justice Narendran and Justice Murali Krishna S expressed serious concern over the dangers posed by such unauthorized modifications to commuters and other road users.
The court emphasized that these vehicles blatantly violate the central government’s AIS-008 and AIS-052 safety norms that regulate vehicle lighting and bus body design.
It also highlighted that filming inside the cabin of drivers during vehicle movement is a violation of the Motor Vehicle Driving Regulations, 2017.
A video shown in open court showed three vehicles colliding while videography was going on inside the driver’s cabin.
“What did the passengers do to deserve this?” the High Court asked, terming it as reckless behavior which puts the lives of innocent people at risk.
In another video, school students were seen dancing under flashing LED lights inside a moving bus, while parents and others recorded the scene.
“How can such beacon-like lights be allowed on these vehicles? Even parents are encouraging it,” the high court said, warning that such unauthorized lights could blind oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of an accident.
Expressing displeasure over lax enforcement by the authorities, the bench said fine should be imposed per unauthorized light installation instead of taking the violation lightly.
Earlier, the court had sought a detailed action taken report from the state on vlogging and unauthorized lighting in vehicles.
On Friday, the state reported that the Transport Commissioner has issued instructions to Deputy Transport Commissioners to intensify enforcement against such violations.
In its interim order, the High Court directed the Transport Commissioner and the state police chief to take strict, immediate action to stop such security violations.
It also called for identifying the educational institutions seen in the video and obtaining reports from enforcement authorities on statutory violations.
The video clipping was ordered to be sent to the State Transport Commissioner and officials of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which handles road safety.
The court urged decisive action and accountability, commenting, “This is how the system should work.”
The next hearing of the case has been fixed in two weeks.
–IANS
sg/red