‘Drink driving, speeding are major problems’

To trap speeding vehicles, and those that cause accidents, the highway police want to put up speed guns and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the state’s highways.

To trap speeding vehicles, and those that cause accidents, the highway police want to put up speed guns and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the state’s highways.

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The highway police will be drafting a proposal to be submitted to the state government, which will list these and other requirements, said Additional Director General of police (highway police) Vijay Kamble.

He added that the officers of the department had already met once to discuss the proposal.

A senior official from the highway department said speeding was the biggest problem on highways in the state. “Most of the time, the culprits take advantage of the vast and the empty stretch of the highway and escape. This gives drivers a feeling that they can drive as per will. But we wish to change this and hence the plan is being chalked out,” he said.

At present, the highway police do not have speed traps to catch people who cross the speed limit.

Police personnel have to stand along the highway if they want to trap speeding vehicles. In case of an accident, the offenders usually escape by the time the police are notified.

The police will also post officers near toll nakas on the highway to apprehend offenders who are trapped by the speed guns or CCTV cameras.

The official added that a software would be used to ensure that the CCTVs can send the offender’s image, vehicle number and other details to the control room.

This, however, would be done only after the proposal is cleared by the state government, he said.