Thiruvananthapuram: Starting Thursday (April 20), newly installed surveillance cameras on the Kerala roads will start functioning. The Motor Vehicles Department has installed 726 state-of-the-art cameras on roads to monitor traffic and automatically detect violations. The goal is to reduce the average of 12-14 lives lost on roads every day.

To avoid fines, motorists are encouraged to follow regulations.

Some of the often neglected rules include:

• Don’t cross continuous white and yellow lines in the middle of the road 

• Consider double yellow lines as dividers 

• Overtake only where there are intermittent white lines 

• No parking on the left side where there is a yellow line on the left side
 

Speed limit of different vehicles (in kms per hour)

Two-wheelers

70 on four-lane National Highways

60 on National Highways with two lanes

50 on State Highways and other roads

Cars

90 on four-lane National Highways with dividers

85 on two-lane National Highways

80 on State Highways

70 on other roads

50 in the city limits of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode

45 on ghat roads

30 near schools

Bus

70 on four-lane National Highways

65 on State and National Highways

60 on other roads

40 in cities and ghat roads

30 near schools

Lorries

65 on National Highways   

40 in cities

30 near schools

40 on ghat roads

60 on other roads

Continuous white lines are placed in areas where overtaking can be dangerous. Parking is only allowed in permitted areas, and no parking is allowed on bends, climbs, descents, narrow roads, and bridges.

Violations will result in fines, ranging from 250 to 5,000 rupees. The Department of Motor Vehicles will notify violators via mobile phone and post. Those who fail to pay the fine within the specified time will be blacklisted and the case will be transferred to the virtual court.

Surveillance cameras are installed in busy areas and danger zones. They can capture the vehicle number and interior through the front glass. The control room will work round the clock to catch violations.

Even if the driver slows down upon seeing a camera, if the vehicle crosses the next checkpoint before the permitted time (calculated based on the speed limit), a fine will be imposed. This happens because the cameras are interconnected.

Unlike popular belief, motorists caught violating the rules will be penalised regardless of whether or not they paid another fine that day.

MVD inspections often neglect whether the pillion rider of the bike wears a helmet. However, a helmet is mandatory for both riders and AI cameras will not exempt them.