The Udupi district administration has issued a strict new directive making speed governors compulsory for heavy vehicles, following two separate and tragic road accidents involving speeding tippers in Kundapur. The incidents, which left multiple bus passengers injured and claimed the life of a two-wheeler rider, have forced authorities to act against overspeeding and negligent driving.
Deadline Set for Speed Governor Installation
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar announced that the district's Road Safety Authority has taken a decisive step. All six-wheeler and heavy vehicles transporting mines and minerals within Udupi district must now install speed governors that limit their maximum speed to 60 kmph. Drivers of tippers and trucks have been given a ten-day window to comply with this order.
To ensure the directive is followed, pamphlets will be distributed to drivers in the coming days. SP Shankar also reiterated another crucial safety measure, stating that January 20 is the final deadline for installing doors in buses. Buses found operating without doors after this date will face penalties or seizure.
Details of the Two Accidents
The first crash occurred on January 5 at around 4:20 PM on the Tallur-Neralakatte route. A KSRTC bus driven by Hanumanthappa Siddappa Madi Poojari, travelling from Kundapur to Ajri, was hit on its right side by a speeding oncoming tipper near Shetrakatte in Gulwadi village. The impact of the collision injured 14 of the 39 passengers on board.
Investigations revealed that the tipper driver, Raghavendra of Kudi village in Kokkarne, violated permit conditions by transporting excess soil at high speed on a narrow road. Raghavendra was also injured and is hospitalized. A case has been registered naming three accused:
- Tipper driver Raghavendra.
- The tipper owner, who is yet to be arrested.
- Shridhara Sheregar of Kalsanka Road, Moodkeri, for allegedly supplying soil illegally.
The second, fatal incident was reported on Wednesday, January 10. A tipper loaded with sand and driven recklessly by Shreyamsh Jain from Halnadu village collided with a scooter near Unity Hall at Hanglur village on NH-66. The scooter rider, Krishnamurthy Adiga, was killed on the spot. A case has been registered at the Kundapur traffic police station.
A Push for Safer Roads
These back-to-back accidents have highlighted the persistent dangers posed by overspeeding heavy vehicles, particularly those transporting construction materials. The district administration's swift move to enforce speed governors aims to curb this menace directly at its source by physically limiting vehicle speed.
The combined focus on speed control for heavy vehicles and basic safety infrastructure like bus doors underscores a renewed push for road safety in Udupi district. The coming days will be critical for compliance as authorities move to prevent such tragic losses of life in the future.
