Mind your speed! You are under radar

Chandigarh, January 14

To educate motorists on driving behaviour and to instil in them fear of getting challaned for speeding, the UT traffic police have installed six speed radars and LED screens in different parts of the city. The radar detects the speed of the approaching vehicle, which is displayed on the LED screen.

The screens, which have been put up on medians, display the speed to alert motorists. If the speed is under 50 km per hour (kmph), the screen flashes a remark, "Thank You", when the speed is above 50 kmph and up to 60 kmph, the screen shows the "Slow Down" remark and in case the speed exceeds 60 kmph, it cautions the commuter with the word "Danger".

The system is equipped with a camera to click the picture of a speeding vehicle so that a challan can be issued to the violator. However, initially, the speed radars will be used to educate people. Shashank Anand, SSP (Traffic), said six such screens had been installed at crash-prone locations where speeding used to happen.

“We will first educate people about the driving behaviour and then, if required, will undertake enforcement,” the SSP said.

The violation of speeding is rampant in the city. To deal with it, the traffic police regularly lay nakas. Last year, a total of 8,837 challans were issued for the offence.

As per the road accident analysis wing of the traffic police, speeding is the major reason behind mishaps on city roads.

In 2018, 92.72 per cent of road accidents reported from the city were caused due to rash driving and speeding.

Installation points

• Near CRPF camp towards Hallo Majra light point
• Ahead of Tribune Chowk towards Poultry Farm roundabout
• Between Gurdwara and Kali Bari light points
• Road separating Sector 45 and 46, towards Sector 45/46/49/50 light point
• Ahead of Railway light point, towards Transport Chowk
• Road separating Sector 49 and 50 towards Sector 45/46/49/50 light point