Hyderabad: Hyderabad has always been noted for its courtesy but nowadays the city is seeing a rise in crime as well as disrespect towards the society. Hyderabadis seem to pay a deaf ear to the traffic rules and regulations for everybody’s safety with a rise in usage of high beam headlights that would easily blind any person coming from the opposite direction.
Hyderabadis refuse to dip the headlights of cars at night, caring little if they blind each other. It’s common courtesy to use the dipper so that high beam headlights don’t dangerously blind the driver of the car going in the opposite direction, but courtesy is not something Indian car drivers can be bothered with.
Earlier, painting half of each headlight or putting a black sticker on the half of the headlight was a mandatory rule which would lessen the brightness of the headlights but the city dwellers seem to avoid the rule nowadays.
Srinivas N. Traffic Policeman speaking on the same said, “We have tried telling the public but they refuse to listen to our instructions. Despite repeated warnings, many people purchase brighter lights. It is a basic courtesy to use low beam lights so as not to harm the driver of the vehicle coming from the opposite side.”
Transport Officer K. Venkata Ramana says, “The earlier rule was discontinued after the advanced new headlight system came in that can control the beam, and also to encourage the use of dippers. However, it is not being used and people continue to misuse the high beam lights. Making alterations to lights and making it brighter or bigger is against the law.”
According to the Transport department officials, drivers have been using the high beam lights in order to see clearly in the rainy season.
The rains and the condition of the roads make the citizens use high beam lights.
Vinod Kanumala, Indian Federation of Road Safety founder, speaking of citizens complaints regarding the poorer street light system and their usage of high beam lights for increased visibility on roads he replied saying, “but it is not the right way to combat the problem. Enforcement of the rule is also difficult. Although the law states that Rs 100 fine can be charged for flouting the rule of not using high beam lights in cities, it is never charged.”
Lohitha N., a local resident of Lakadikapul says, “Every night when I travel back from office, it is literally a battle to keep my eyes open. I follow the law of driving with low beam headlights and people should follow the same. If they keep thinking that the other person is not doing it, we will never improve. It is a matter of grave concern, especially in sharp left and right turnings. If you momentarily cannot focus on the road, it will surely lead to accidents.”
Traffic department officials have been asked to check on drivers who use colored light bulbs to decorate their vehicles.