Hyderabad: Many girls are cashing in on the “pity” factor when it comes to violating traffic rules. Like men helping women when they run out of petrol on the road, traffic cops, too, tend to be a little liberal when it comes to women traffic offenders. They take a lenient view of women motorists not carrying vehicle documents or doing triple ride or driving without licence and safety equipment.
G Nagamallika, 53, a college lecturer who drives to her workplace, said, "It is true that the traffic cops are careful and soft on women when caught for traffic violations. Maybe, they are afraid of charges being levelled against them for harassment. It’s also that cops tend to be mild with girl motorists. They need not treat women differently, but be polite and enforce rules whether it’s a boy or a girl."
Hyderabad men have also faced such situations. When men were caught for minor violations too, women motorists were allowed to proceed even when they don’t carry with them a licence. A 25-year-old IT recruiter, B Dheeraj, has faced several such situations.
“Once I was caught for not wearing a helmet. That was the first day when the rule was enforced here. A few women, who were also caught at the same time, were politely told to purchase helmets and then were allowed to proceed. One of them had an improper number plate. Everyone is equal before law.”
DCP Traffic A Ranganath said, “There’s no such gender discrimination as far as enforcement is concerned. Cops are a bit considerate with females, whose numbers are fewer on the road. Women are also booked when they violate traffic rules or when drunken driving happens. Yes, we are lenient with females when it’s a small mistake. Normally, even women motorists are fined and even their vehicles get seized as and when they violate traffic rules.
Different treatment
Police officials insist there is no discrimination in enforcing rules; all are treated equally.
Female motorists are allowed to go even when they are not carrying licence.
Maybe the cops are afraid of charges being filed against them for harassment if they are firm with offenders.
