Vijayawada: The number of female drivers has been increasing in Vijayawada city. Over the last three years, data from the RTA shows that the number of girls taking the licences have increased drastically for both two-wheelers and four wheelers. Vijayawada, which has a history of women cyclists in good number, now leads to create history in women drivers.
Now the city has undergone a big change, roads become wider and the routes gone longer. After becoming the centre of the state capital, the traffic climate has changed more. On MG Road or Eluru Road or NTR University road, a good number of cars are seen being driven by women. The number of two-wheelers is huge on the roads. Jobs have increased and women employees have increased, so it has become necessary to have a vehicle.
The girls going to college and women going to offices have been preferring individual vehicles rather than common transport. As per RTA records, two-wheelers licences taken by girls have increased 72 per cent in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16. In 2017 also, there is significant increase in the number registering 75 per cent rise. The number of licences for four-wheelers by women has increased by 45 per cent in 2016-17 and it is going to increase by 50 per cent in 2017-18.
Ch. Aruna goes to a private office daily driving a Maruti Swift. She says a personal vehicle is convenient for their timings and to protect from pollution. As of now, the traffic of Vijayawada is not at all a problem, except at Benz Circle, said Ms Aruna. The traffic police has also opined that, the girls or women driving vehicles have increased. Important thing is that, they have opined that, mostly girls or women will follow the traffic rules rather than the men.
