Tightening the noose around road safety measures and transportation of materials in open trucks, the Manipur Transport department has issued advisory under Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
The latest notification issued by Transport Director, Nivedita Lairenlakpam on August 23, mandated fitment of Rear Under-run Protection Device (RUPD) and Lateral Side Protection Device (LUPD) devices for all heavy vehicles and their adherence to performance quality as per standards.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has noted that many heavy vehicles and trailers are still running without RUPD and LUPD for N2, N3, T3 and T4 and are facing performance issues such as bending/failure in case of accidents, it said.
RUPD and LUPD devices are meant to guard vehicles in case of collisions/accidents and can significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries, it asserted. It said that non fitment of these devices violates Rule 62 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
It also mentioned the device performance issue/failure in case of accidents and instructed tat the the bending depth should be within the prescribed limit. The devices must ensure compliance of Rules 124(1A) of CMVR 1989, it maintained.
It further said that the General Requirement of vehicle for RUPD and the technical requirement of vehicle lateral protection side will be as per IS:14812-2005 and IS:14682- 2004, specified by Bureau of Indian Standard, respectively amended time to time for the mentioned categories of motor vehicles.
It further noted that many open body goods carriages vehicles are not covered during the vehicle movement and instructed that all open body goods carriage vehicles must be covered during movement.
It stated that as per the Rules 138(B) of CMVR, the goods carriage vehicle should be covered by using appropriate cover like tarpaulin or any other suitable materials.
It urged all those concerned and general public to ensure strict compliance of the CMVR, 1989, else stated that the vehicle owner/driver will be penalized under the provisions of MV Act, 1988.
