Check rampant use of mobile phones while riding

Sir,

This is to bring to the notice of the Traffic Police authorities concerned about the rampant ongoing menace of using mobile phones while riding two-wheelers in and around the city.

Despite highlighting this issue multiple times by many concerned citizens, we are yet to see any concrete steps taken in this regard by the Police Department.

I can see almost one in three or 4 two-wheeler riders either bent to one side over his shoulder or balancing his/her bike with one hand and keeping the mobile device to the ear using the other.

Most of the times these riders meander sideways on any direction on the road unable to keep concentration of lane discipline or speed. This in turn risks and sometimes snuffs out their own lives and also lives of innocent law-abiding passers-by.

I would like to give a few suggestions in this regard which, if implemented by the Police Department, may result in some reduction of this menace:

1. Make usage of mobile phones a serious offence similar to drunken driving and impose hefty fines even for first offence. Also make faulty/ missing number plates a criminal offence.

2. Install more number of ‘working’ CCTV cameras in not only CBD (Central Business District) areas but also in busy residential areas where this menace is rampant.

3. Conduct thorough and regular checks and drives by qualified Police personnel for using mobile phones while driving and missing/ faulty number plates.

4. Rely more on technology and maintain existing CCTV cameras to catch culprits and issue them notices promptly.

5. Deploy Police patrol vehicles in areas where this offence is rampant for on-the-spot identification and fine. Vehicles with mounted HD cameras may come handy here.

6. Create awareness about the hazards and risks of this offence and also about the punishment.

7. Deploy a few common people as volunteers with body-worn cameras to record the offences while they move about and notify the Police Department.

I hope the Mysuru Police Commissionerate will take note of the above suggestions and work on the solutions to rein in this menace so that our people will be more safe.

– Dr. Suhail Azam Khan, N.R. Mohalla, 11.1.2024

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