Hyderabad: While violation of traffic rules will result in suspension of driving licence, there are motorists who do not have a driving licence. Over 60,000 people have been booked from January to June this year for driving without a licence. On the directions of a high-level committee appointed by the Supreme Court, driving without a licence meant driving without proper training, and this is not only dangerous for the motorist but also for other road users as well. The traffic police seizes the vehicle for this offence and files charge-sheets against drivers. With about 10,000 cases being booked each month and the number of cases not coming down, traffic police has suggested giving imprisonment for such motorists.
“The objective is to make people follow traffic rules. It is mandatory for anyone who wants to drive a vehicle to apply and obtain a licence. The drive against drunk driving is successful because motorists are being sent to jail. We hope giving law violators imprisonment will instil fear and respect among people for law,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) A.V. Ranganath said. Traffic and transport expert T.S. Reddy, a retired scientist with the Central Road Research Institute, said a clear cut message should be sent that any “government is serious” about implementing traffic rules and violation would be dealt with sternly.
“Some of the enforcement authorities have failed to send this message across. Also, a massive awareness campaign needs to be launched to inform people about the importance of following traffic rules, the impact of violating them on families in case of accidents and punishment and fines for violating the rules. There are hardly any banner or hoarding on these in the city,” he noted.
