Police to enforce strict rules to reduce accidents in Belagavi

Belagavi Police have issued a set of instructions to the public and officers to reduce road accidents.

As per records, Belagavi witnesses over 800 accidents every year.

More than 800 people die in road accidents every year in Belagavi district and the District Police have taken steps to create awareness to prevent road accidents.

The frequency increases during the sugarcane cutting and transport season. In order to reduce preventable accidents, the police have introduced some rules.

They include avoiding stopping of sugarcane-laden lorries on roads and highways, compulsory use of braking lights and signals, pasting iridescent and luminous posters or flags on the rear side of loaded or empty sugarcane trucks and tractors, strict implementation of the no drunk driving rule and others.

Drivers must follow all these rules. Officers, on the other hand, have been instructed to book instances of drunk driving as attempt to murder cases, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan has, in a release, said.

There will be zero tolerance to rash and negligent driving. Under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner is punishable with imprisonment for a first offence which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ₹1,000 or both.

For the second/subsequent offence, imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to ₹10,000 or both.

Under Section 281 of the BNS Act 2023, driving a vehicle in a negligent and irresponsible manner is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to ₹1,000 or both.

Meanwhile, as per some relevant court orders, legal action is being taken against vehicles that emit high decibel sounds, leading to noise pollution.

As per Section 190 (2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, any person who drives or causes to be driven a motor vehicle in any public place in violation of the norms prescribed for road safety, noise pollution or air pollution shall be punished with imprisonment for three months or with fine which may extend to ₹10,000 or both.

The Environment Protection Act 1986, Rule 15, provides for imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or a fine which may extend to ₹1 lakh or both.

The Noise Pollution Regulation and Control Rules 2000, Rule 5, prohibits the use of loudspeakers, public address systems or similar devices without permission.

Under Rule 8, action shall be taken if it is found necessary to prevent nuisance, noise or such danger to the public or to the occupants of an adjacent property.

Under Section 36 of the Karnataka Police Act 1963, the police can order the control or stop excessive noise or disturbance if it causes inconvenience to the public.

Transporting dangerous material has been prohibited by law. Section 190 (3) of the Motor Vehicles Act provides that any person who drives or causes to be driven a motor vehicle in violation of the rules for the carriage of goods of a dangerous nature shall, for the first offence, be liable to a fine of ₹10,000 and shall be disqualified from holding a licence for three months. Or, face imprisonment which may extend to one year or both.

And, for any second or subsequent offence, a fine of ₹20,000 or imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or both shall be imposed.

Strict legal action will be taken against violators, the Superintendent of Police said.