CMVR-1989 as regards headlights of vehicles must be enforced on ground by MVD & Traffic Police for safety on roads

DAYA SAGAR

It was reported on December 20 that Regional transport Officer Jammu of J&K Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) had intensified inspection of vehicles across District Jammu focussing on adherence to traffic rules, verification of documents and for promoting responsible vehicle usage by the users/ operators for which intimate interest had also been expressed by Transport Commissioner J&K,. Vishesh Paul Mahajan. As per information shared with the media out of the125 vehicles that were inspected 49 were challaned and 5 were seized (Rs 1,33,500 fines collected on spot) which reflects that nearly 42 % of the vehicles out of the vehicles inspected were violators of the rules like vehicles plying with riding 2-wheelers without helmet, overloading (P&G) , reckless driving, ,underage driving , non compliance of traffic rules, expired fitness certification , route permit violations .RTO Jammu has been quoted highlighting the dangers of negligent driving /driving vehicles against rules adding that he could quote several instances wherein negligence of a fraction of ‘second’ had’ claimed several lives and such drives by the Department are also focussed / aimed against defaulters so as to reduce incidents of road accidents and also for instilling a culture of civic responsibility among road users. Such seriousness on the part of the Motor Vehicle Department surely needs appreciations & cooperation from one and all. But how for such checks have so far produced the results well reflects from the high percentage of defaulters booked out of 125 vehicles checked on 20th December 2024.

As reported RTO Jammu, Pankaj Bhagotra, had very truthfully expressed concerns for the accidents on roads but something more need be done ground to enforce the traffic rules on regular day basis & not simply trough occasion group checks. We have cameras installed at important locations and not many traffic personals are needed even at signal posts. .
But for that in addition to traffic rules , vehicle maintenance requirements & presence of proper fitments / accessories on the vehicles while presented for passing before RTO and their use while moving on roads have also to be particularly kept in focus particularly the fitment of headlights/ lights on the vehicles , their focussed inspection at the time of passing of a new / old vehicle by the RTO/MVD and also regular check for such fitments by the traffic police while the vehicles are moving on road ( particularly during evening / night hours ). Many vehicles these days are found fitted with banned lights which almost blind the approaching vehicle drivers , more so ‘hardly’ any one is found using even dipper during night hours which can result in accidents, increased travel time and increased fuel consumption. Very rarely we may see some MVD/ Traffic police doing checks for un authorised use of such lights or non use of dippers ( when we can have speed checks on road side we can also have checks for use of banned lights/ no use of dipper ).
We well know in India there are no less rules available for regulation of sale of vehicles and use of vehicles which also relate to civic discipline as well as safety on the roads like supply of vehicles with safety belt & use of belt while driving ; provision of dipper ( for headlight) on the automobile &use of dipper while driving so that vehicles approaching each other may have some better vision; no use or provision of extra bright lights as lights / headlights on vehicle beyond a prescribed brightness / dizzling light blinding the approaching drive to avoid chances of accident or extra reduced speed . But it is observed that vehicles are running on roads fitted with extra bright white ‘blinding’ lights without any check by MVD officers or Traffic police in cities like Jammu city which causes lot of inconvenience to normal citizens and very particularly to the elderly people . Not only that in cities like Jammu on main roads we may hardly find some one even using dipper at night while approaching other vehicle where as there is strict enforcement in cities like Chandigarh : Mumbai.
In 1970s/ 1980s The headlight glass of vehicles in India / J&K used to be got half as painted black by the traffic police /even passing authority and sometimes police was found stopping vehicles and getting painted half black at owner cost as a regular feature{The practice of painting headlights half black was indeed mandated by the Indian government, specifically under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1939, and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1957. Rule 104 of the CMVR (1957) specified the requirements for headlights, including the beam pattern, intensity, and colour. The rule also mandated that the upper half of the headlight glass be tinted or painted black to reduce glare.}.These days we do not find such practice since the rules have been amended ( In 1989, the CMVR was amended, and Rule 104 was modified. The revised rule no longer required the upper half of the headlight glass to be painted black. While the rules still specify requirements for headlight beam patterns, intensity, and colour, there is no longer a requirement for the upper half of the headlight glass to be painted black), may be hoping that people have over the years become more aware and would be using features like dipper on their own ( but that is not happening ) .
The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 regulates the use of vehicles, including safety features and lighting, Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989specify the standards for vehicle lighting, including headlights, taillights, and indicators and Automotive Lighting standards, set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), specify the requirements for automotive lighting, including intensity, colour, and mounting. To be brief it could be said here that among the ‘Prohibited Lights’ we can include (i) High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps that produce an intense white or blue light are not allowed as headlights (ii) LED lights are allowed but LED lights with high intensity (above 10,000 candelas) are not permitted (iii) Laser lights are not allowed as headlights or auxiliary lights. In case there is some change the quotes here are subject to correction and mentions made here can be surely taken for concept sake.
It is not wrong to say here that the Vehicle manufacturers have the responsibility to must ensure that vehicles are fitted with lighting systems that comply with Indian standards and regulations; RTO officers must also verify that vehicles comply with safety and lighting regulations before registering them and Traffic police must also enforce the rules and regulations, including checking for prohibited lights. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) GOI has also issued notifications regarding vehicle safety and lighting standards.
For instance (i) The position of headlights on vehicles should be as per Rule No. 104 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989. The light flux for passing filament was about 750 lumens, and for driving filament, it’s about 1250 lumens ¹; (ii) The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has guidelines for the approval of headlamps emitting an asymmetrical passing beam or a driving beam or both (iii) The daytime running lamp should switch OFF automatically when the headlamps are switched ON is also safety recommendation. For more detailed information one can refer to the Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) and Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989.
I am sure the Checklist used by Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVD) to verify compliance with safety and emission standards must be also including the head lights/ Certificate of Road Worthiness issued by the MVD Inspector too includes compliance with safety and emission standards. Check lists under Safety features must be also including (i) Seat belts (ii) Headlights (low/high beam) (iii) Taillights (iv) Brake lights (v) Indicators (vi) Rear view mirror (vii) Horn. Forms and checklists used by Inspectors in different states may vary in the format used but would they must be meeting all such requirements .
The current regulations governing headlights in India are specified in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, as amended. While the rules still specify requirements for headlight beam patterns, intensity, and colour, there is no longer a requirement for the upper half of the headlight glass to be painted black.
Any how the rules/guidelines governing the Headlights too should be on the priority check list during inspection of vehicles before passing and while on road on the MVD Officers / Traffic Police Officers for better road safety and hope the inspecting teams would reset priorities likewise . Continued
(The writer is a Sr Journalist &
analyst of J&K Affairs)