Commercial vehicles claimed 262 lives last yr

In 2010, commercial goods vehicles claimed as many as 262 lives on Delhi roads. HT reports.

In 2010, commercial goods vehicles claimed as many as 262 lives on Delhi roads.

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Danish Husain, 5, who died when a speeding dumper hit him on Friday, added to this year's statistics. According to an estimate, more than one lakh commercial vehicles run across the city every day. About 15,000 inter-state vehicles pass through Delhi during late night hours.

"At least 80% of these vehicles are overloaded and run at breakneck speed but there is little enforcement," said SP Singh, senior fellow and coordinator, Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training. Experts added that commercial vehicles with goods jutting out should have a red fluorescent cloth hanging and additional red lights installed along with the goods. But the law is violated quite brazenly.

Road transport authorities have been given powers not only to impose penalty and get excess weight offloaded, but also make an endorsement on the permit of the vehicle and suspend the licence of drivers. But neither excess weight is offloaded, nor the authorities endorse cancellation of licence.