Hyderabad: Using cellphones while driving, a common sight

Hyderabad: With almost every other person now possessing a phone, the usage of cell phones while driving has become a very common sight in the city. However, Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, recently amended to hike the penalties, forbids the practice of driving and talking on the cell phone while driving. Under the new rules, the fine for this offence was hiked to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000.  

With the proliferation of budget phones and cheap connections, the trend of using the phone while driving is on the rise, according to records. In 2017, 9,864 people were caught using a cell phone while driving. In 2018, that number went up to 14,686. This year, till October, 15,887 offences have already been registered.

The present Motor Vehicles Act also penalises with offence points. For cell phone driving, it is two points; if a motorist reaches 12 points his/her licence will be cancelled.

Bluetooth is another device which is popular with four-wheeler drivers as it connects the mobile phone to the car’s audio system, leaving the driver’s hands free.

Driving and talking on the phone is distracting, mood swings may result according to the conversation, and this may lead to fatal accidents.

A traffic officer said there is no prohibition of the use of Bluetooth but it is still hazardous.

The city traffic police are doing its best to make citizens aware of the dangers by arranging interactive sessions, putting up hoardings and advertising in newspapers. But still there has been no dip in cell phone driving