No doubt, it is a good idea, and one that is universally accepted, to penalise violations of the speed limit so as to check the rising trend of on-road mishaps. However, I find that in their zeal to stringently implement the rules -- sometimes challaning people for exceeding the limits by as little as one or two kmph -- our cops tend to ignore the `margin of error' inherent in the instruments employed by the drivers as well as themselves to determine speed, often leading to unwarranted harassment of people.

So far as the driver is concerned, his sole means of ascertaining the speed of his vehicle is the speedometer. You will agree with me when I say that the superlative Mercedes Benz E-class represents the pinnacle of automotive perfection in India. Everything about it, from the upholstery to the instruments on the facia, is first rate. Thus, it will be safe for us to presume that this range of alluring German beauties comes equipped with the most accurate speedometers available. And just how accurate are these instruments?

Over extensive tests conducted by Auto India, it was found that, at an indicated 60 kmph, the Mercedes E-230's speedometer was off the mark by a factor of 3.3 per cent. In the Opel Astra's case the deviation was as much as 6.6 per cent. More recently, speedos on the 1.3 and 1.5 Exi versions of the Honda City were found to register errors to the tune of 8.3 and 5.6 percent respectively - this, inspite of having identical instruments! From this data it should be clear that speedometers merely indicates approximate speeds and two meters, even if from the same lot, might register different readings at a given rate of motion of a vehicle. Infact, sometime back, a prominent auto magazine had noted that the Norton and B.S.A. motorbikes three decades back had speedometers that offered greater accuracy over present day instruments!

Now, if the instruments fitted in some of our premium and super premium luxury cars are not up to offering 100 per cent accuracy there exists reason enough for one to suspect that the speedos fitted on scooters (keeping in view that the cheapest of these utilitarian two-wheelers cost less than a hundredth as much as a Mercedes) and the lower end cars will be far less accurate. Allowing for a margin of error equalling 10 per cent, it is easy to see that at an indicated speed of 50 kmph, a vehicle could actually be moving at anything between 45 kmph and 55.5 kmph i.e well within the stipulated limit or considerably out of it.

Furthermore, with time and all the rough stretches that our vehicles have to encounter, speedometers are reduced to little more than drunk needles on calibrated dials. Does the law require an owner to go in for periodic testing of this instrument or do the manufacturers themselves recommend any such period and if so, then do we have a facility in the city where such a test may be got done? To the best of my knowledge, the answer to the above three is `no'. Besides, like the speedometer in a vehicle, the radar used by the cops is itself not entirely free from error -- it might add or subtract an odd kmph from the vehicle's actual speed.

So then, how far is the traffic police justified in challaning people for minor violations of the speed limit which might well arise on account of instrumental error?

In trying to rigorously implement the stipulated limits, the cops obviously have the west for a model. However, in the process, they are ignoring the peculiarities of an Indian road. For instance, would you find rickshaws moving parallel in twos and threes on a thoroughfare in America, or let us say, a lumbering tractor-trolley, bursting with cattle feed, bang in the middle of the road? No. But you do find these even in the most well planned Indian city i.e. Chandigarh. Countless times one has to switch lanes to negotiate the maze of traffic.

In such a situation, minor violations of rules are inevitable, even essential. Therefore, I would suggest that instead of slapping fines indiscriminately and harassing people, the cops should exercise discretion, discriminate between the nature and degree of offence and yes, go slow on the speeding ticket!

The writer is a BA final year student at GCM Sector 11, Chandigarh