In Hyderabad, women traffic cops prove a hit

Hyderabad: Women traffic police constables have been managing traffic posts, photographing stop line violators, signal jumpers and other traffic violators since a month now and most of them want to stay with the traffic wing now. Women drivers too like the presence of women constables on the roads as they find them easier to approach.

Women constables were inducted after nine months of training in the police and one week training in the traffic wing before being put on the roads. The women constables are not only managing junctions but also participating actively in drunken driving checks. This has made women drivers intercepted for drunken driving checks more relaxed. Apart from the occasionally rude traffic violators most people intercepted are nice to the women constables.

Currently six women traffic constables are deputed to Madhapur traffic police station limits. “At first there was some problem adjusting to the public. Most people we stop behave normally but occasionally a man turns rude. Overall it is a good experience and I wish to remain in traffic police,” said Shakuntala, a woman constable.

“Women drivers often argue with us when asked to take drunk driving tests. Slowly this is changing. Earlier, women drivers could not be intercepted by male cops but now they are becoming more responsible due to the presence of women cops,” said another constable Ashwini.