Most of the VIPs, including cabinet ministers, are entitled only to escort Gypsies and not pilot vehicles. These are the privilege of just a handful, like the Chief Minister, Sukhbir Badal in his capacity as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, all MPs, former chief ministers, the Director General of Police, the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, and the Anti-Terrorism Front’s M S Bitta. But regardless of the rules, all the VIPs worth their salt use escort vehicles, which are supposed to trail them, as pilots (lead) in utter violation of rules.

The speed limits are also given a complete go by.

Yadvinder Singh, the general secretary of the Punjab Drivers’ and Technical Employees’ Association, says most Government vehicles are not insured and and in case of an accident, the driver concerned shells out 50 per cent of the cost from his pocket. “It is a gross violation of the Motor Vehicles Act, but despite our repeated requests, the Government is not bothered.”

Singh says another problem is that of whimsical VIPs, who tell their gunmen to drive the vehicles. “Then they blame us for accidents.”

Sunday’s accident involving the escort Gypsy of former Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa is a classic case of rule violation. Though an escort, the Gypsy was being used as a pilot. One rash turn at the wheel and it collided with a Hyundai Accent at Kathgarh village near Ropar, resulting in the death of gunman Pargat Singh on the spot.

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