Unauthorised vehicle lighting: Kerala High Court orders action against dangerous modifications
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday expressed serious concern over road safety violations arising from unauthorised LED strips, flashing name boards, and DJ-style lights fitted on buses and goods vehicles. The court reviewed multiple video clips posted on YouTube showing such modifications.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and Muralee Krishna warned that these alterations pose significant dangers to passengers and other road users. The court noted that the vehicles flagrantly violated Central Government AIS-008 and AIS-052 safety norms governing vehicle lighting and bus body design.
The bench also highlighted that filming inside drivers’ cabins while vehicles are in motion contravenes the Motor Vehicles Driving Regulations, 2017. One video shown in court depicted three vehicles colliding while cabin videography was underway.
“What did the passengers do to deserve this?” the High Court asked, describing the behaviour as reckless and life-threatening.
Another clip showed school students dancing inside a moving bus under flashing LED lights, with parents and others recording the scene. The court questioned how “beacon-like” lights could be permitted and criticised parents for encouraging such behaviour, noting that the lights could blind oncoming drivers and increase accident risks.
Expressing displeasure over lax enforcement, the Bench suggested that fines should be levied for each unauthorised light rather than treating violations lightly.
The State informed the court that the Transport Commissioner had directed Deputy Transport Commissioners to intensify enforcement against such modifications. In its interim order, the High Court instructed the Transport Commissioner and State Police Chief to take immediate, strict action to prevent such breaches. It also called for identifying the educational institutions shown in the videos and obtaining enforcement reports on statutory violations.
Video evidence was ordered to be forwarded to the State Transport Commissioner and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways officials handling road safety.
“This is how the system must function,” the court remarked, urging decisive action and accountability. The case is scheduled for further hearing in two weeks.
IANS