| Karnataka is the first state in India to come | | | | roads," federation president G.R. Shanmugappa |
| up with the speed governor rule. The move was | | | | told a national daily. |
| followed by a directive from the Karnataka | | | | |
| High Court in a case of person losing his son | | | | Indian arm of Toyota Corp., Toyota Kirloskar |
| in a road accident in 1996. | | | | Motor Ltd. had to temporarily halt its |
| | | | production near its Bangalore plant due to a |
| The State Transport Department's enforce | | | | strike by taxi owners and truck operators. |
| installation of speed governors on all | | | | |
| transport vehicles from January 1, 2008 has | | | | Over 350,000 trucks, buses and private cabs |
| been heavily criticized. The goods vehicle | | | | went off roads to protest the increased costs |
| operators have opposed the rule as it should | | | | speed governors. The rule would mean to |
| be implemented uniformly across India and | | | | restrict the speed of commercial vehicles to |
| State-owned transport corporations have | | | | 60 kmph on high ways. The speed governors |
| welcomed the move. | | | | reduce the flow of fuel to the engine if the |
| | | | speed is exceeded. |
| Members of Federation of Karnataka State | | | | |
| Lorry Owners' and Agents' Associations | | | | However, speed governors are not tamper-proof |
| decided to approach the Governor of Karnataka | | | | and once the vehicle gets registered, the |
| with the plea of uniform enforcement. "If the | | | | owner/ driver can always tamper with the |
| government does not defer the enforcement, we | | | | gadget. If the 25 lakh commercial vehicles in |
| will be forced to launch a State-wide strike | | | | Karnataka need to install speed governors, it |
| taking three lakh goods carriers off the | | | | would cost around Rs. 15,000. |