[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by GTO

Imagine your SUV getting classified as a heavy motor vehicle and getting fined 4000 bucks for doing 95 kmph . 95 kmph on the open expressway, although admittedly on a downhill section!

I’m assuming this is easily contested. What was the LMV speed limit on that section anyway?

[GTO]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

I’m assuming this is easily contested. What was the LMV speed limit on that section anyway?

Not my car, so out of courtesy, I have paid the challan first, and will contest later .

But this Lonavala / Khandala ghat section is notorious for ridiculously low speed limits at certain points. It is outright extortion & exploitation by the local police to generate revenue. There is one wide down-slope section where it is impossible to stay below 80 kmph, yet the speed limit is a crazy 60 kmph (or 70? pretty sure it's the former). You can see all the cars on this section brake and crawl, which is actually more dangerous than cruising at 80 - 100 kmph.

[cedricsg]

Originally Posted by GTO

But this Lonavala / Khandala ghat section is notorious for ridiculously low speed limits at certain points.

I use this road weekly and I can relate to what you are saying. It is mindless extortion, while Trucks on the right lane go without any fines. The interesting point though is the camera angle showing the rear portion of the car. I have seen most of these cameras facing to oncoming traffic and thus snap the front part of the car usually. Need to keep this mind, to spot the reverse as well.

[Joe367]

How does it determine whether the vehicle is LMV or HMV? Just the size of the vehicle? Why would they do that if it already has the vehicle registration number?

[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

I was on a road-trip in this ultra-luxury SUV with the family, including senior citizens, so was driving in an extremely relaxed manner. Cruising at 100 kmph tops, and taking curves slowly (again, senior citizens in the car).

When I was in Dubai I drove a self drive car there, I drove car on every road of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Now let me talk about the expressway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. On the Dubai and Abu Dhabi route the speed limit was 140 and even then if it was reduced it was done in steps (they take whole 1 km to reduce speed from 140 to 80 kmph ), if it reduced from 140 to 120 then the road is marked with white stripes saying reduce speed to 120 and it is written on a board on the side of the road again to the reduce speeds means they create the environment so well that the driver gets to know about it and he reduces the speed in any case. Than again same process happens for 200 m when the speed is further reduced to 100 from 120 kmph.

But here in India these traffic policemen are very clever, they usually stand at such places where the speed limit suddenly changes from 100 kmph to 80 kmph or 60 kmph without any decent warning given/nor road conditions or traffic has changed much. From this it becomes clear that they just want to challan the drivers for revenue, they actually do not care about public safety.

[rahulkr14]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

Absolutely agreed. It has reached a point where I no longer want to drive on the expressway. I was fined 2k for doing 73 KMPH in one of the sections! To add to the woes of having different speed restrictions in different sections, the signages are also confusing. One can see 80 KMPH board next to a 100 KMPH one. This expressway, once touted as a marvel (which it is) is soon turning into an extortion racket. As pointed out in various posts, going overtly slow on the highway is itself dangerous. Really sad situation. I hope some sense prevails and a consistent, clear and predictable speed limit is implemented by the authorities.

[SRM]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

Absolutely agree! They have turned the whole drive on this expressway to a mess. Don't think anyone would have escaped a challan in recent times. It's like a non-stop driving test where the driver needs to look more on the speed limit boards then on the actual road. The speed limits keep changing at whims with no real logic/consistency.

Also, placing these cameras every 5-10 mins means everyone brakes as they see cameras and zoom past them till the next one arrives.

What used to be a lovely drive has become a pain now, hopefully they get sense to have consistent speed limits, one for the normal roads and one for the ghats section.

[true_sedan]

Compared to rest of India, Tamil Nadu(except chennai) is a highway utopia for car drivers. No speed cameras anywhere in TN. I've been driving close to 13 years now on highways covering over a span of 1.5 lakh kilometres and never been fined or stopped once anywhere ever.

This practice of enforcing 50, 60 kmph signages on a 80,100 kmph highways makes no sense. It is more dangerous to slow down a car when you encounter one of these signs. I can slow down but what about the car or truck that's tailgating me with no Crash Avoidance Space. Absolutely bollocks that they expect us to slow down and risk our lives.

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

Not exactly in the right sense of following the safety norms, but, I make it a point to have Radar BOT open at all times on the highway. It gives a clarity and peace of mind.

[Dr. AUTOANATOMY]

Perhaps the time is opportune to invest in an Uniden or equivalent RF detector w/laser transponder add-on, capable of jamming both front and rear ward beams.
I've only recently had the displeasure of having been challaned and paid up ₹6k in speeding fines between both of my cars for doing sub-100kmph on the approach road to KIAL(BLR airport).
This stretch of road is IIRC 4+ lanes both to and fro ways and one of the few if not only ones devoid of sine wave undulations and potholes in and around North BLR.
So naturally, the ingenious and cunning parasites anticipate that motorists will stretch their vehicles' legs along this road, hence devise a devious plan to have speed traps of the finest quality up and down this one road for furthering greedy revenue.
If I'm prohibited from driving at atleast a 100 clicks, on a seemingly well laid and accomodating bit of road, don't sell me anything over a 100 Bhp. Period.

[BimmerDude207]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

I completely agree with this. What is the point of setting lower speed limits even if the infrastructure is capable of supporting higher speeds (relatively) and most cars sold today can reach 100 km/hr in a relaxed manner? Heck, even a Tata Sumo could reach 80!!(Even if it did take a very long time)

These randomly oscillating speed limits are so prevalent in Kerala, where the speed limit drops from 80 to an absolutely ridiculous 30km/hr!!!! And that too on a STATE HIGHWAY!!

On a side note, why has the indicator of the Range Rover been covered by a team bhp sticker?

[dsuman]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

. 95 kmph on the open expressway, although admittedly on a downhill section!

This is the Modus Operandi of the Cops. I have been a victim of such strategic placement of Speed Cameras on 3 occasions. The intention is to (Collect) Fine the Vehicles and not to deter speeds. They know vehicles speed down the slopes so the cameras are placed strategically where people don't notice the speed since they are too busy focusing on the Road

[It's Magic]

Originally Posted by BimmerDude207

Heck, even a Tata Sumo could reach 80!!(Even if it did take a very long time)

I believe you meant the Tata Nano here, right?

Originally Posted by BimmerDude207

On a side note, why has the indicator of the Range Rover been covered by a team bhp sticker?

It might also be difficult to understand which Range Rover image you are referring to—I would recommend using the quote button to provide a clear reference. Thanks!

[nikvint]

This is a common practice everywhere. Their motto is not to develop discipline in driving or control traffic, but to extort money. I have been fined 4 times and 3 out of 4 times, I was not at fault. One time, I have parked my car on road due to accidental emergency, otherwise all the other times, I was punished without my fault. There is no system or notice board to inform you about the speed limit on the road. Govt is milking money by harassing public.

[uneaz]

Originally Posted by GTO

This is climbing to ridiculous levels!

From poorly marked Speed Limit Signs, to unscientific speed & traffic regulations on Indian Highways such as unexpected speed bumps, 4 lanes suddenly merging into 2 lanes and more, topped up by unregulated vehicles and inexperienced drivers, taking a road trip on Indian highways is a test of patience and survival skills.