Sir,
It is not clear how to consider the news of city Traffic Police collecting Rs.7.13 lakh as fine from violators in just three days (Star of Mysore dated Mar. 5), that too only in certain areas of the city. Whether it is efficiency of the Traffic Cops to have rigorous checks or the inability of the citizens in not following traffic rules for their own safety and also for the safety of the others!
Traffic Cops should be appreciated for their innovative ideas, like seizing the vehicle found without proper documents or not wearing helmets, etc., and releasing it only on the production of the necessary documents and procuring helmets, of implementing traffic rules against the stubborn violators.
In spite of the introduction of new method as indicated above, still riders don’t seem to be bothered and are moving on the roads without helmets, seat belts, number plates either at rear or at the front, altered, masked or broken number plates, driving triple or beyond, going in one way road or opposite to the flow of the traffic on the same side of the road, pushing the barricades and crossing the road wherever they want, parking in no parking zones, parking on the road itself or parking in second row thereby obstructing the movement of other vehicles, using mobile, direct or through ear phones while driving, obstructing pedestrian movement by stopping on zebra crossing, signal jumping, etc.
One has to do research to find what can bring a change in these violators. Increased fines and suspending or cancelling the licence after a certain number of violations or continuous rigorous checks may bring some change in the attitude of the violators.
– Dr. S.V.N. Vijayendra, Roopanagar, 6.3.2017
I wish to point to one more aspect of lack of safety of their own small children by riders of two wheelers. Many are seen zooming on the roads with their small children carelessly seated on the petrol tank, or the rider precariously holding them with one hand and doing the balancing with the other, two or three children perched and squeezed in between two adults, mostly husband and wife etc. It is pathetic to see children in such situations. They do not see the danger laying ahead in case of sudden braking or the child falling asleep due to cool breeze flowing on the face. Simple advice to fasten a belt around the child and the rider is ignored or scoffed at. I also do not understand why this is not a cognisable traffic offence. May be many traffic policemen coming from poor family think that this is the only way for poor people to carry children around and if they catch them and fine them, they may feel the guilt.
IT IS TRUE THAT MANY PARENTS TAKE THEIR KINDS AS INDICATED BY MR. SHANKARA. AS AND WHEN I SEE SUCH CASES I CAUTION THE RIDERS ABOUT THIS. RIDERS SHOULD BE MORE MINDFUL OF THE RISK TO THEIR OWN KIDS AND THEIR ACT, RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE POLICE STOP AND FINE THEM.