Speed Limit on National Highways
The road accident data analysis of the state shows that in the year 2019 there has been 8250 nos. of accidents. Similarly, 6593 accidents occurred in 2020 and 4328 in 2021 (till 31 July) and the corresponding deaths were 3207 in 2019, 2629 in 2020 and 1789 in 2021 (till 31 July). As per the road accident data, over speeding is the major cause of road accidents and it has accounted to 54.70% of total road accidents in 2018, 84.40% in 2019 whereas the national rate was 71.10% for 2019.Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in a statement said that, ‘75.30% of the cause of 2629 deaths in 2020 in Assam was due to over speeding despite the fact that the movement of vehicles were restricted in view of the Covid pandemic situation. Out of 2629 deaths, 48% occurred in the national highways of Assam. Therefore special drive has been undertaken to check over speeding on highways.’ ‘Speed limit on national highways is decided by NHAI, Government of India not by the State Transport Department. The speed limit on NH ranges from 40-100 km/hour. The speed limit is less in some places which are vulnerable, accident-prone and black spots. But in other areas, it is up to 100 km/hour. The fine is imposed as per the speed limit decided by NHAI’, added Patowary. The Transport department with an aim to reduce the incidence of road accidents and minimize fatalities and injuries, have initiated arrangements of monitoring of over speeding through Traffic Interceptor Vehicles in the state. The NHAI, PWD have placed speed limit restrictions through installation of speed limit road signages at various location on the highways and state roads which are accident prone zones. Similar speed limit signages have also been
installed at locations such as schools, hospitals, busy market areas, intersections, mid blocks, T & Y junctions, 4-Arm junctions etc.
It is pertinent to mention that the speed restriction is only for specific locations which are marked with speed limit road signages and not for the entire road network. Since last month the effective enforcement of rules regarding over speeding and over loading has been going on. Due to this, the number of road accidents and fatalities have both come down. Transport Minister Patowary has further requested and appealed to all the people to follow the prescribed speed limit notified on the national highway and support and cooperate with the Transport Department, Government of Assam to enforce the speed limit on highways and prevent accident and save precious lives.