The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has armed its cops with night vision laser speed guns to catch night-time speeders.
Motorists tend to exceed their speed limit during night time when the presence of security personnel is comparatively low. According to SSP Janak Bhattarai, in-charge at Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, this is not the first time Valley traffic cops are equipped with speed guns.
“This time, we plan to use the speed gun more effectively,” he said.
Overspeeding at night, when the roads are almost empty, is one of the main causes of fatal road accidents. “The night vision laser speed guns are expected to help in to minimizing the likelihood of road fatalities due to overspeeding during night hours,” SSP Bhattarai informed.
According to him, the new road safety measures will be focused on the six-lane Koteshwor-Suryabinayak and the eight-lane Koteshwor-Kalanki road sections.
The maximum permissible speed limit along the Koteshwor-Suryabinayak and Koteshwor-Kalanki road stretches is 50 km per hour.
“We used to bring to book an average of 40 drivers for breaching the prescribed speed limit rules during daytime. With the provision of night vision laser speed guns which can measure the speed of a vehicle from 300 metres away, we have been able to bring to book speeders even during odd hours,” he said.
The guns can also take still video images of the vehicle in question.
Though first-time offenders are freed with warning, repeat flouters face actions such as paying fines and attending mandatory online class about traffic rules.
Each traffic rule violator may be slapped with a fine of Rs 500, as per the Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act.
