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Adhering to the changes made to the Motor Vehicle Act 1989 during March 2014, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) is planning to strictly implement the same by booking cases on the vehicles carrying protruding materials.

However, there is a long way to go.

The Union Road Transport Ministry had deleted the sub-rule (8) of Rule 93 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) 1989 that allowed protrusions beyond one metre of the cargo area of vehicles.

The amendment, in accordance with the Union Road Transport Ministry, prohibits any kind of projections of materials beyond the cargo area.

The change was brought into the Act, by the ministry in March, in the wake of accidents due to the vehicles like trucks carrying protruding materials, especially construction materials such as iron rods, poles, pipes etc, claiming many lives. The change has been effective since March 2014.

Dakshina Kannada district Regional Transport Officer Afzal Ahmed Khan told Deccan Herald that the rule is being followed in the district and cases are being booked against violators, after imposing fines on the vehicle owners and drivers.

Fines will be imposed for the first offence and repetitive offences, he said and added that the vehicles could also be seized for repetitive offences.

“Due to the vehicles carrying protruding materials, not only the other vehicles but also the pedestrians will be under risks as the projections will be in various directions. As per the rules, the vehicles carrying such items should have red flags or reflectors.

The rule banning the protrusions was in force previously also.

But, only the projections up to one meter from the cargo area of the vehicles. Whereas now, no protrusions beyond the cargo area will be allowed,” the RTO said.

He said that in the last two months, 35 cases have been booked under the Act. So far, 200 cases have been booked in the district in the current year, the RTO said.