Kochi: With the district topping the accident charts across the state yet again, the city traffic police is out with a new strategy to rein in rash driving, especially of private buses and autorickshaws. Drivers caught for offences like overspeeding and overtaking from the wrong side are being made to write ‘impositions’ on road safety pledge instead of being penalised.
“This way safe road practices will always be in the mind of drivers and more than that, the young drivers won’t want to write impositions publicly by spending time during the peak hours of their job. So far 310 drivers were given the punishment this month under the City Traffic East Police station,” said a senior officer.
The cops have also made ‘pledge stickers’ to be pasted inside autorickshaws and other private hire vehicles. “We receive the maximum complaints against drivers of private buses and autorickshaws for rash driving. Hence, we focus on these two groups,” he said.
“I will drive through the left lane as directed under the law and drive vehicle responsibly…will give due consideration to pedestrians and other vehicles – won’t drive after using ganja or liquor or won’t use mobile phones while riding…won’t ride competing with other vehicles or by ignoring traffic signals.. as I won’t become the cause of an innocent victim getting injured on the road,” the pledge reads.
Currently, the initiative is being carried out by the City Traffic East Police and will be extended to other areas too. A total of 32 people died due to rash and negligent driving so far this year under the East Police station limit so far this year. Meanwhile, the traffic police has set up a warning board at Vytilla Junction with mishap death figures and asking motorists to drive carefully.
