Hubbali: Sugarcane-laden tractors and trucks have emerged as a serious safety concern on roads across North Karnataka, with police and commuters blaming overloading and poor compliance with traffic rules for a growing number of accidents. In recent years, hundreds of people travelling in cars, two-wheelers and other vehicles have been killed or injured after colliding with sugarcane-loaded vehicles, reports The Times of India.
Police officials say many tractors carry sugarcane far beyond their approved capacity and often fail to follow basic safety norms. Warning signs, reflectors and indicators are frequently missing, and vehicles are sometimes left parked on roadsides at night without any visibility measures. These conditions, officials say, have led to several fatal crashes.
Commuters have urged authorities to strictly regulate the movement of sugarcane vehicles and ensure that road safety rules are followed.
A senior police officer from North Karnataka said tractors designed to carry about four tonnes are commonly loaded with as much as 10 to 12 tonnes of sugarcane. He added that trucks, which are allowed to carry up to 12 tonnes, are often overloaded with 16 to 20 tonnes. Enforcement is weak because police often avoid strict action out of sympathy for farmers, he said.
He said when fines are imposed, farmer groups often accuse the police of targeting them, and political pressure further discourages enforcement, as many sugar factories are run by political leaders. Despite these challenges, police continue to conduct awareness drives, urging tractor owners to install reflectors, indicators and visibility strips. He also said action will be taken against loud DJ sound systems on vehicles, which have been identified as another cause of accidents.
Farmer leader Aravind Kulkarni from Vijayapura said responsibility for safe transport lies with both tractor owners and loading contractors. He said tractor owners are often blamed when accidents happen, even though overloading and violations are widespread and difficult for police to monitor on a daily basis.
He added that continuous engagement with farmers and transporters could help reduce accidents. According to him, the issue goes beyond rule-breaking and directly affects public safety. He called for strong government intervention, suggesting penalties should apply not only to vehicle owners but also to contractors and sugarcane growers to effectively control the problem.
