Sir,

In recent times, traffic violations of various kinds have reached a peak, making it difficult for law-abiding citizens to travel on the roads.

Some common violations include riding without helmets by both rider and pillion, using mobile phones while driving, triple or quadruple riding, jumping traffic signals without restraint, driving on the wrong side and in no-entry zones at reckless speeds, drunk driving, overtaking from the left, and more. This menace can be curbed through the following measures:

1. Imposing heavy fines on traffic violators in line with the penalties set by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (Government of India).

2. Establishing a Traffic Violations Monitoring Cell (TVMC) equipped with advanced infrastructure, including PCs, laptops, and servers, by the Police Department in every district of Karnataka. TVMC should collaborate with the relevant RTOs to share vehicle databases.

3. The TVMC should employ personnel with the necessary qualifications and computer skills, hired either on a contract or regular basis.

4. Hiring physically capable personnel on contract or piecework, equipped with HD button cameras or mobile devices. These devices must feature tamper-proof software to ensure the integrity of videos/photos. The authority to alter footage should only lie with officials of SP rank or higher.

5. Deploying personnel in special uniforms to patrol the roads and capture traffic violations on video or photo. Any attempt to assault these personnel should be treated seriously and prosecuted under relevant laws. Insurance must be provided to ensure compensation in the event of injury or loss of life.

6. Developing software that automatically uploads captured videos / photos to the TVMC servers.

7. TVMC personnel should immediately notify traffic offenders via WhatsApp or email, specifying the fine amount and due date. For those without access to these platforms, notices should be sent by mail.

Failure to pay fines within the due date should result in doubled or tripled penalties until a final deadline. If payment is still not made, the Police should seize the vehicle, which can be traced using advanced TVMC software.

If these suggestions are implemented effectively, traffic violations could be reduced by 75-80 percent within 5-10 years, similar to the situation in the USA.

However, the real question is whether the Government or Police Department will truly adopt these measures. It’s doubtful, as enforcing these rules could reduce the illicit flow of money into both Government coffers and Police pockets, as more people would comply with traffic regulations.

The world rests on hope, as do the innocent citizens. Only time will reveal the outcome of these suggestions. These recommendations are based on over 46 years of driving experience and 40 years of dedicated service in a Central Government organisation.

– N. Suresh Prasad, Naidunagar, 5.10.2024

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