Latest news with #RohitBaluja
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Truck with disaster: Violations surge 46%
In July, trucks have been involved in two major fatal accidents in south Delhi, highlighting the menace of heavy vehicles on the roads. According to Delhi Police data, so far this year, heavy vehicles were involved in 82 fatal accidents, causing 85 deaths and injuring 187 people. Last year, 87 fatal crashes ended up claiming 89 lives and injuring 205 persons in the corresponding period. The data shows that during this period, traffic violations by heavy vehicles increased by 46 per cent from last year. While 17,776 challans were issued in the first six months of 2024, this year, 26,025 challans have already been issued. Improper or obstructive parking, which was the most frequent offence, increased sharply from 10,147 cases in 2024 to 14,473 in 2025. Violations of restriction of time (no entry) also surged notably, from 4,108 to 7,326. Jumping traffic signal, while showing a slight decline, remained high, with 1,766 cases in 2024 and 1,401 in 2025. The number of heavy vehicle drivers not using seat belts went up from 702 to 1,120, highlighting safety concerns. Vehicles operating without a pollution under control certificate (PUCC) were reported 686 times in 2024 and 914 this year. Violations related to disobeying lawful directions went up steeply, from 118 to 415. Trucks carrying sand or dust without proper covering (no entry) almost doubled, rising from 157 to 295. Vehicles operating without fitness certification decreased slightly, from 92 to 81, the data showed. According to an officer, these violations mostly increase at night. Once the no-entry period ends, drivers of heavy vehicles tend to speed. Some also try to enter during no-entry hours, the officer said, adding that obstructive parking was another major problem, often causing snarls. A senior police officer said teams have been deployed at various locations to curb violations by heavy vehicles and enforce compliance. Rohit Baluja, president, Institute of Road Traffic Education, said heavy vehicles face a big challenge on Delhi roads, which are not engineered for mixed-traffic conditions, especially as two-wheelers wriggle their way in and around larger vehicles. Footpaths remain encroached upon by vendors, parked vehicles or other debris, forcing pedestrians to walk on the carriageway. Legislation also does not support heavy vehicles, he said. For instance, Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules demand that where bus lanes are segregated and marking on roads or streets have been provided, all buses and goods carriages plying during permitted hours will be confined to the bus lanes, and no other motor vehicle shall enter that space. When accidents occur, heavy vehicles are always labelled as accused, said Baluja. Anil Chhikara, a transport and vehicle expert, said the primary reason behind most of the fatalities involving heavy vehicles is excessive speed. According to him, the accidents could be significantly reduced if speed governor devices are installed and enforced in vehicles across the city. A speed governor, he explained, is a specialised piece of instrument designed to regulate and control the speed of an electric motor or engine, preventing vehicles from exceeding safe speed limits.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Time of India
Truck with disaster: Violations surge 46%
New Delhi: In July, trucks have been involved in two major fatal accidents in south Delhi, highlighting the menace of heavy vehicles on the roads. According to Delhi Police data, so far this year, heavy vehicles were involved in 82 fatal accidents, causing 85 deaths and injuring 187 people. Last year, 87 fatal crashes ended up claiming 89 lives and injuring 205 persons in the corresponding period. The data shows that during this period, traffic violations by heavy vehicles increased by 46% from last year. While 17,776 challans were issued in the first six months of 2024, this year, 26,025 challans have already been issued. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Improper or obstructive parking, which was the most frequent offence, increased sharply from 10,147 cases in 2024 to 14,473 in 2025. Violations of restriction of time (no entry) also surged notably, from 4,108 to 7,326. Jumping traffic signal, while showing a slight decline, remained high, with 1,766 cases in 2024 and 1,401 in 2025. The number of heavy vehicle drivers not using seat belts went up from 702 to 1,120, highlighting safety concerns. Vehicles operating without a pollution under control certificate (PUCC) were reported 686 times in 2024 and 914 this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo Violations related to disobeying lawful directions went up steeply, from 118 to 415. Trucks carrying sand or dust without proper covering (no entry) almost doubled, rising from 157 to 295. Vehicles operating without fitness certification decreased slightly, from 92 to 81, the data showed. According to an officer, these violations mostly increase at night. Once the no-entry period ends, drivers of heavy vehicles tend to speed. Some also try to enter during no-entry hours, the officer said, adding that obstructive parking was another major problem, often causing snarls. A senior police officer said teams have been deployed at various locations to curb violations by heavy vehicles and enforce compliance. Rohit Baluja, president, Institute of Road Traffic Education, said heavy vehicles face a big challenge on Delhi roads, which are not engineered for mixed-traffic conditions, especially as two-wheelers wriggle their way in and around larger vehicles. Footpaths remain encroached upon by vendors, parked vehicles or other debris, forcing pedestrians to walk on the carriageway. Legislation also does not support heavy vehicles, he said. For instance, Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules demand that where bus lanes are segregated and marking on roads or streets have been provided, all buses and goods carriages plying during permitted hours will be confined to the bus lanes, and no other motor vehicle shall enter that space. When accidents occur, heavy vehicles are always labelled as accused, said Baluja. Anil Chhikara, a transport and vehicle expert, said the primary reason behind most of the fatalities involving heavy vehicles is excessive speed. According to him, the accidents could be significantly reduced if speed governor devices are installed and enforced in vehicles across the city. A speed governor, he explained, is a specialised piece of instrument designed to regulate and control the speed of an electric motor or engine, preventing vehicles from exceeding safe speed limits.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
All two-wheelers to come with ABS from next year
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) will become mandatory for all two-wheelers sold in the country from January 1 as part of a proposed new safety regulation by the government. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is likely to issue a notification soon on the matter, said people aware of the matter. The step is aimed at arresting high incidence of road accidents involving motorcycles and scooters. It will extend the current ABS mandate-applicable only to models above 150cc-to the entire two-wheeler segment, including entry-level variants which comprise about 75% of the domestic market. ABS is designed to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, reducing the likelihood of skidding and crashes. This is achieved by rapidly pushing the brakes, preventing the wheels from skidding and allowing the driver to steer around obstacles. Two-wheelers were involved in nearly 20% of India's 151,997 road accidents in 2022, according to latest available government data. "This is a long-needed measure," said Rohit Baluja, director at the Institute of Road Traffic and Education (IRTE), a non-profit organisation dedicated to road safety and traffic management. "Many pedestrian accidents are caused by abrupt braking without vehicle control." While the safety benefits of ABS are widely acknowledged, the government mandate is expected to inflate production costs for manufacturers, which is likely to be passed on to consumers in the coming months. Analysts estimate prices for entry-level two-wheeler models to rise by '2,500 to '5,000 per vehicle, potentially dampening demand in a price-sensitive segment. "Any regulation that adds cost tends to weigh on demand," said an analyst at a domestic brokerage. "This one is no different." Motorcycle models with 75cc to 125cc engines accounted for two-thirds of domestic sales in FY25, according to brokerage Nomura. Sales rose 4.6% to 9.26 million motorcycles last fiscal. Scooter sales rose 17% to 6.85 million units in the same period. "Two-wheelers account for 44% of road fatalities in India. Hence, improving their safety is a major priority and introduction of ABS for all two wheelers was much needed," said KK Kapila, president emeritus at International Road Federation, a global road safety body. He said the cost factor will not be much while stressing that safety is much more important. "Two-wheelers are the lifeline of major cities in the country despite improvement in public transport and we have to live with them. The only way to reduce road accidents is to find ways and means to make them safe with use of technology," he said.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
All two-wheelers to come with ABS from next year
Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) will become mandatory for all two-wheelers sold in the country from January 1 as part of a proposed new safety regulation by the government. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is likely to issue a notification soon on the matter, said people aware of the matter. The step is aimed at arresting high incidence of road accidents involving motorcycles and scooters. It will extend the current ABS mandate-applicable only to models above 150cc-to the entire two-wheeler segment, including entry-level variants which comprise about 75% of the domestic market. ABS is designed to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, reducing the likelihood of skidding and crashes. This is achieved by rapidly pushing the brakes, preventing the wheels from skidding and allowing the driver to steer around obstacles. Two-wheelers were involved in nearly 20% of India's 151,997 road accidents in 2022, according to latest available government data. "This is a long-needed measure," said Rohit Baluja, director at the Institute of Road Traffic and Education (IRTE), a non-profit organisation dedicated to road safety and traffic management. "Many pedestrian accidents are caused by abrupt braking without vehicle control." While the safety benefits of ABS are widely acknowledged, the government mandate is expected to inflate production costs for manufacturers, which is likely to be passed on to consumers in the coming months. Analysts estimate prices for entry-level two-wheeler models to rise by '2,500 to '5,000 per vehicle, potentially dampening demand in a price-sensitive segment. "Any regulation that adds cost tends to weigh on demand," said an analyst at a domestic brokerage. "This one is no different." Motorcycle models with 75cc to 125cc engines accounted for two-thirds of domestic sales in FY25, according to brokerage Nomura. Sales rose 4.6% to 9.26 million motorcycles last fiscal. Scooter sales rose 17% to 6.85 million units in the same period. "Two-wheelers account for 44% of road fatalities in India. Hence, improving their safety is a major priority and introduction of ABS for all two wheelers was much needed," said KK Kapila, president emeritus at International Road Federation, a global road safety body. He said the cost factor will not be much while stressing that safety is much more important. "Two-wheelers are the lifeline of major cities in the country despite improvement in public transport and we have to live with them. The only way to reduce road accidents is to find ways and means to make them safe with use of technology," he said.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Survey to identify causes of jams at 2 S Delhi roads
New Delhi: To ease traffic snarls at two of south Delhi's busiest corridors—the Chirag Dilli intersection and RTR Marg—Delhi Traffic Police, in collaboration with Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), has launched a detailed traffic engineering survey to identify the root causes of congestion and recommend long-term solutions. While the survey on the Chirag Dilli intersection is already complete, its findings will be formally presented on June 23. The report for RTR Marg, which connects the airport corridor with the AIIMS stretch, is expected to be ready by mid-July. "Traffic engineering plays a key role in managing road infrastructure. When we conduct surveys, we try to identify the root causes of congestion. In many cases, it's not just about traffic volume but also about traffic engineering—like sudden lane expansions or contractions, missing or unclear signage, and much more. For instance, a sudden stop of one vehicle at a particular point causes a ripple effect across the entire stretch," explained IRTE director Rohit Baluja. "These aren't problems that can be solved by policing alone. They need proper traffic engineering solutions," he asserted. According to sources, some problems found at the Chirag Dilli intersection included a lack of information signs, inappropriate geometry with reference to the volume of traffic, and the need for better signal operation management. "We've initiated a detailed traffic survey of the Chirag Dilli and RTR stretches around Munirka and near Gurgaon, in collaboration with IRTE to identify engineering-led solutions. The Chirag Dilli's inspection is complete, and we expect inputs on RTR by mid-July. Based on the findings, we will involve civic agencies and draw up a coordinated plan to ease snarls on these two high-pressure corridors," said additional CP (traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
