India: Motor Vehicle rules

White Ambassador cars with red beacons have become the standard official accessory of the powerful ruling elite. Carrying forward the British legacy of flaunting their status as colonial masters, our ministers and their kin have become too fond of and attached to their trappings of power. From flaunting their driving plates embossed with VIP numbers to crisscrossing the roads in vehicles with mounted flashing beacons, politicians and their powerful minions (read babus) have become used to abusing their privileges with gay abandon.

Disturbed by the rampant impunity of its misuse, the Supreme Court was constrained to recently order a limit to the use of red beacons, sirens and multi-tone horns in cars carrying bureaucrats and ministers. The apex court was forced to take a serious view of the matter because despite strict laws by the Ministry of Road Transport laying down the provisions for use of red beacons atop vehicles, violation of the rules had become way too wanton and brazen. As per clauses under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and provisions under Rule 108 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, “the Central Government, vide Notification No. 52 (E) dated January 11, 2002, has specified that the use of beacon light on a motor vehicle is allowed to only those vehicles that carry high dignitaries as specified by the Central Government & the State Government having jurisdiction.” The Delhi Motor Vehicles Rule, 1993, Rule no 97 (2) states, “revolving-cum-flasher red light can be used only by motor vehicles on emergency duties such as ambulances, fire tenders and PCRs. Police patrol vehicles, pilot vehicles and transport department vehicles can use a blue revolving-cum-flasher light.”

In the United Kingdom, red or blue beacons are used by vehicles on emergency duty only. Vehicles used by fire-fighting personnel, police, on ambulance duty and by the coastguard are eligible to use red or blue beacons while green beacons are for use by vehicles on medical duty, amber by personnel in charge of highways maintenance or recovery vehicles, and white in case of nuclear emergency. There is no provision of beacons for ministers and government employees.

In India, the rules specifying the use of red beacons are honoured more in the breach than in the observance. Worse, due to the low fine (between Rs 100-300) imposed for violations on using a red beacon, its unauthorised use has become rampant.

Unperturbed by the SC ruling limiting the use of red beacons, West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has found a novel way out to dodge the court's order. She has suggested that her ministers and officials should start using green beacons instead of red. And here's the reasoning. "Red is the colour of allergy. If you have a rash, your skin turns red. But green and blue are soothing colours. I feel we should get rid of red even on beacons fitted over hoods of our cars," West Bengal Minister Madan Mitra was quoted telling the media.

Wonder what the Supreme Court will have to say to that!