India's Most Advanced Laser Speed Gun Can Record Speeds Upto 320 kmph Even At Night
Overspeeding is a major cause of accidents on Indian roads. In a bid to curb this reckless behaviour, Pune Rural Police has now come forward with a new initiative where they have installed advanced laser speed cameras on the Mumbai–Pune National Highway. The cameras are currently installed in the Lonavala and Vadgaon Maval areas.
This is actually a pilot project which is currently being implemented with the support of the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), a partner under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS). The initiative is aimed at reducing road accident fatalities and improving overall road safety.
According to Pune Rural SP Sandeepsingh Gill, the majority of accidents on the highway happen due to overspeeding and carelessness. With the help of these new cameras, the authorities aim to reduce accidents as they can monitor the accurate speed of vehicles.
As part of the pilot project, the cameras have been installed at three locations on the old Mumbai–Pune highway. The cameras are extremely advanced and are capable of capturing footage both during the day and at night. The cameras can record speeds of up to 320 kmph. They will not only detect the speed of the vehicle but will also capture video and photographs of the violation.
The cameras not only detect overspeeding but will also identify riders on two-wheelers without helmets, people using mobile phones while driving or riding, and other such violations. The photograph and video of the violation will be shared with the control room, from where authorities will issue a challan or take appropriate action.
Police data mentions that Pune district records one of the highest numbers of serious road accidents. Pedestrians and two-wheeler riders account for the highest number of fatalities in the region. This is one of the reasons why authorities decided to install these cameras here, as it would help them monitor the roads properly and people might start following the rules due to the presence of these surveillance cameras.
At the moment, the cameras are installed on a trial basis and after evaluating the situation, including their effectiveness, authorities will consider expanding them to other accident-prone areas in Pune. Last year in May, around 40 officers from the Pune Rural Police were trained to use the new laser cameras. Additional training sessions were also conducted in November last year and February this year. The data collected during the pilot phase will help the authorities refine enforcement methods in the future.
Overspeeding is a serious issue, especially on Indian roads. There are only a few highways and expressways in the country that legally allow you to drive at 100 kmph. Even those roads are not entirely safe.
In India, we always have to expect the unexpected on the roads. The chances of someone suddenly jumping in front of the vehicle, a stray animal crossing the road, or even a jaywalker or a wrong-side rider coming in front of the vehicle are quite high. In such situations, if your vehicle is travelling at high speed, losing control becomes very easy and this may even lead to serious accidents. It is because of these so-called surprises that it is important to adhere to speed limits and be aware of your surroundings on our roads.