[Imran Ahmad Ali]

When you buy a bus for 20L, 5k is not a huge amount. And a sticker job with a Pricol or Minda logo and the text "Speed limiting device fitted" would cost perhaps Rs.100. The rules are the same in Kerala too, a speed limiting device with a set speed limit of 60kmph (or was it 80?) should be installed in Commercial vehicles if they are to get a registration certificate and fitness certificate. The bus operators have some tricks up their sleeves to simply bypass this device. Heck, I know drivers in KSRTC who have told me that the corporation's long-distance buses have their speed-limiting devices "adjusted" to let them cruise at decent speeds (and they do 420km in 6-7 hours despite entering two bus stands, a couple of breaks, and traffic at the originating city/town). Go figure![/quote]

Exactly my point ! If 5 k isn't a huge amount a Lakh plus as fine is right ? It's the states benefit if they aren't enforcing the speed limiter ! Well if its a sticker job then there is a serious lapse in the " passing " of the vehicle on a yearly basis ! It's a problem with the state government .
If the state government in Kerala can't ensure and enforce the speed limiting devices they should do away with it altogether why run such a scam ? If they don't mind the speed limiters being adjusted ( clear proof of this example itself ) they shouldn't impose fines .
Here my schools drivers keep complaining of the bus not being fast enough but atleast the children in my busses are safe ! I think it's a personal choice also ! I'd rather spend more money in fuel and repairs then get anyone hurt.
Imran

[vasoo]

Originally Posted by IronH4WK

...
on one of my trips back from Pune, i was having difficulties driving in pitch dark (1am) on NH4. saw a B9R pass me by and i tagged along. the rear of the B9R was stickered with those reflective stuff, so i didn't lose him. he paved the way and i followed. covered considerable distance behind the fella.

i was doing 130kmph, so i'm guessing the B9R was doing at least 150kmph or more (i was keeping a safe distance).

Yes. They do go at pretty high speeds and the night traffic helps them to maintain it much longer than otherwise. You can checkout the dep and arrival times of many multi-axle bus on redbus.in and see that many of them claim to reach in 9 to 10 hrs to places like Kottayam in Kerala.

Btw, if the bus is ahead of you and you are keeping a constant distance, both of you must be going at the same speed! If the bus was faster, it will disappear pretty soon.

[IronH4WK]

Originally Posted by vasoo

Btw, if the bus is ahead of you and you are keeping a constant distance, both of you must be going at the same speed! If the bus was faster, it will disappear pretty soon.

i didn't think of that! initially when i tagged the bus, i was doing 130; didn't notice the speedo after that coz i was all eyes on the bus

must have matched the bus's speed, but i don't think i crossed 150kmph coz that's the UCL for my car.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by IronH4WK

i was doing 130kmph, so i'm guessing the B9R was doing at least 150kmph or more (i was keeping a safe distance).

Like vasoo said, if you were following the bus at a safe distance, then you would be doing the same speed as the bus. You were doing 130kmph before you started following the bus. Unknowingly, you would've slowed down a little bit, and then if the bus and you were cruising at 110-120kmph, which is pretty much possible. Also add into account the speedo-error. The 130 you see on your speedo might be actually 120-125kmph in reality. The only way is to compare the speedo indication with a distance/time calculation on a stretch of road where you know the accurate distance between two points.

Originally Posted by Imran Ahmad Ali

Exactly my point ! If 5 k isn't a huge amount a Lakh plus as fine is right ? It's the states benefit if they aren't enforcing the speed limiter ! Well if its a sticker job then there is a serious lapse in the " passing " of the vehicle on a yearly basis ! It's a problem with the state government .

This is the typical way of working in an RTO/govt machinery. You have greedy babus who are ready to turn a blind eye to various offences.

why run such a scam ? If they don't mind the speed limiters being adjusted ( clear proof of this example itself ) they shouldn't impose fines .

AFAIK, it was a court ruling that the govt must ensure all CVs are fitted with speed limiting devices.

[Imran Ahmad Ali]

Originally Posted by silversteed

This is the typical way of working in an RTO/govt machinery. You have greedy babus who are ready to turn a blind eye to various offences.

AFAIK, it was a court ruling that the govt must ensure all CVs are fitted with speed limiting devices.

I wouldn't say it's a fool proof system yet with such obvious signs of non-compliance if the state chooses to turn a blind eye the faults on them ! I agree with what you say " Ruling that the government should ensure the governors are fit for speed limiting commercial vehicle " . Ensuring is the word I am emphasising on , it's a lapse In the system that the state governments not doing anything about .
I am pretty happy the way things are done here . They are pretty thorough in what I've seen. Not an extra buck for anything .
Best wishes
Imran

[pjbiju]

Originally Posted by luvDriving

Totally agree here. How and why did the traffic unit allow the bus to cross so many checkpoints (cameras) at the said speed in the first place? Why was it not stopped after the very first infraction or at the very least asap after the police got the intimation ?

It is very obvious that these speed cameras are a means of revenue generation and they have no intention of disciplining traffic.

I beg to disagree. Yes, on the spot preventive action may have been better. But this is also equally good. I am sure neither that bus driver nor the fleet operator will break the speed limits for quite a while now. Similarly, people who come to know about this, will also be driving within the speed limits in these stretches. So IMO, this does contribute towards more disciplined traffic. The real problem is the lack of sincerity from the traffic police. If the top man puts pressure on the department, things work. If not, bribing will always set you free. So the more automated stuff we have, the better off we will be.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

The Cruze touched 180, but it was still behind the bus, the bus driver finally slowed down to let him overtake. A Volvo can easily cross 135kmph, seen many do it on the Kanyakumari NH.

Originally Posted by IronH4WK

this is true.

Very true. Sometime back, when I was on the way to Kanyakumari with speed around 120-125, all of a sudden, for a moment I felt the car was not stable, that is when I realized that a volvo just zipped passed me, it was either KPN or Kesineni. For sure he must have been going on around 140-150kmph, within seconds he disappeared from the scene.

[shinuak]

Some 4 years back I used to be a frequent traveller in KPN volvos and befriended one driver. He has told me that the speed is limited to max 120 kmph in volvos which are on Indian roads. I don't remember if this is for B7R or for B9R, off late I don't travel much in these buses and don't have up to date knowledge on this. But from my memory there is definitely a speed limitation and I don't think the volvos can do 150, 170 and all unless they do some rigging in the system.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

The bus was travelling at night on a deserted stretch, considering how the NH is in Kerala, I am sure the bus was trying to reach Bangalore within the promised time. The cops in Kerala are good at harassment of this sort, socialist hangover I guess. The useless sinecures of the MVD should be asked to present a cost benefit analysis of their latest toys plus what it costs the government to have them laze around, I am sure it would be a net loss.

I know a lot of people think that overspeeding is terrible, but the fact is that if you travel at 70 or 50(the latter is the speed limit every where else), then most passengers will be late for class, work or a connecting journey.

From what I know, open/deserted stretches of road are not exempted from speed limits. For any kind of vehicle, doing 150kmph that too in the night is suicidal (and criminal, as they are playing with the lives of the passengers). I would say, start a couple of hours early, drive at sane speeds, and reach the destination on the promised time.

Socialist hangover or not, Kerala is one state where even short distance private buses create havoc on road. If these kinds of actions can curb those killer instincts, I wholeheartedly welcome this.

[avira_tk]

Originally Posted by vb-san

From what I know, open/deserted stretches of road are not exempted from speed limits. For any kind of vehicle, doing 150kmph that too in the night is suicidal (and criminal, as they are playing with the lives of the passengers). I would say, start a couple of hours early, drive at sane speeds, and reach the destination on the promised time.

Socialist hangover or not, Kerala is one state where even short distance private buses create havoc on road. If these kinds of actions can curb those killer instincts, I wholeheartedly welcome this.

The lonely(if there are any in Kerala) stretches are not exempt from speed limits, some of us in the interior have a long way to travel before we get to the NH. These buses are the only option, as for playing with the lives of passengers, that is applicable more to useless trucks which cause the accidents. Buses have very low rates of accidents, speed limits set in 1970 are no cause to panic. I rarely travel by bus but if they don't speed up, a lot of people are going to complain about the operator, it'll be bad for business. People go home for a vacation and you want them to start a few hours early from home? Unlike the publicity crazed MVD sinecures, some people need to travel far and fast to earn their living.

These are long distance coaches, unlike private buses, they don't slam the brakes in the middle of the highway to pick up a passenger. Cut some slack here, law abiding is fine, from South or Central Kerala, these speed limits have kept the travel time the same for the last 2 decades. If getting better roads and slower speeds isn't a socialist hangover I don't know what is.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by vb-san

I would say, start a couple of hours early, drive at sane speeds, and reach the destination on the promised time.

Last Monday, it took me 2.5 hours to travel 11 kms inside trivandrum city. Major issues being Srikaryam Junction and Kazhakkuttom. Volvo from Trivandrum to Chennai takes almost 1.5 hours to cross 30kms out of kerala.

After crossing such spots, how do these busses reach bangalore in 12 or even 15 hours, if the maximum speed on deserted stretches is also 70kmph? It will take 11 hours if it were to maintain constant 70 from Trivandrum to Bangalore/Chennai. But the traffic and road conditions are far from ideal!

I'm not telling the busses should be allowed 150 kmph. But atleast the roads should be good enough to cruise at 70! Here roads are pathetic, alternate modes of transport are not available, and only fine collection is going in full swing.

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

I'm not telling the busses should be allowed 150 kmph. But atleast the roads should be good enough to cruise at 70! Here roads are pathetic, alternate modes of transport are not available, and only fine collection is going in full swing.

Completely agree on what you mentioned about road conditions. Trouble is, even on not so ideal roads these buses normally do 3-digit speeds. What I am saying is, on our roads these speeds are not ideal even for high end cars, that too throughout the night.

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Most of these police 'checkposts' have cameras now. How did they catch this bus at so many locations, at night?
I thought these cameras work properly only during the day!

There is a flash light emanating when the camera is triggered which can clearly be seen at Junctions. I have seen this at the Ernakulam Vytilla signals at night.

Originally Posted by nitinbose

I read from one of the newspapers that this exercise would continue till 12th September.

The Government wants money to pay salary advance and Onam allowance well ahead of the Kerala's Onam celebrations commencing on September 15

[wildsdi5530]

@shinuak: IIRC the maximum speedo reading in Volvo buses is 120 kmph, but the needle can swing beyond that.

The govt should be concentrating on putting brakes on the sliding rupee and not harass the bu operators. Agreed that offences should be punished severely, but I'm sure that none of the people in this forum adhere to the 40kmph city and 70kmph highway limits. If the govt starts fining team-BHPians, we will have to pay fines which can prop up the next 5 corrupt govts.

[Daewood]

Originally Posted by avira_tk

People go home for a vacation and you want them to start a few hours early from home?

People advocating for 150KMPH in Indian roads..that too in Team-Bhp where the usual trend in most of the discussions is for safe and sensible driving.
BTW this is from today's newspaper. http://www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...?homepage=true The Bus was a multi axle Kallada Travels and the road it happened is the same one being discussed here, NH 47, and the time of the incident was 1.30 am.