Good job cops, but a lot more needs to be done

While most citizens agree that the traffic cops have done a great deal to make roads safer, they need to do more and not rest on their laurels.

Many dangers the wantonly modified vehicles pose to civic life, several commuters, citizens and police officials admit that a lot more is to be done to regulate the City’s unruly traffic. While many have come forward in praise of the traffic police’s many campaigns against drunk driving, tinted windows on vehicles, and free left, the need for carrying the good work forward to check modified vehicles and pollution is emphasised. But the police have their own woes too.

Among many problems that cripple the traffic police, the lack of coordination with the RTA is a major one. While officials from the traffic police department admit that better coordination is yet to be achieved, the RTA has lagged behind in raising any sort of campaign against the many traffic issues we face in our times.

As admin inspector AV Srinivas says, “The RTA needs to begin rule enforcement strictly and coordinate with the police to help curb traffic issues. Getting a driving license is easier than booking a movie ticket these days, which should say something about the kind of drivers we have on our streets.”

The fact that there are businesses in the City that thrive on modifying vehicles is an indication of the blatant rule violation we have in the City. “People generally tend to resist change as a natural habit. In Hyderabad, all rules belong to the rule books and stay in the rule books. I agree that this is a serious issue and it is to be taken up with the higher authorities soon,” said DCP of traffic police MK Singh.

Officials from the department agreed that they were short of infrastructure and training to recognise and apprehend vehicles modified beyond their original designs.

Citizens and commuters too are in two minds about the entire department. “I deeply respect the traffic department for enforcing the drunk driving campaign and the free left campaign. It has helped make our roads safer. But the department needs to focus on training the bottom ranks of their officers to be more gentle and decent. I also hope that the Intelligent Traffic Management System will help ease our traffic woes,” says Aneesh Kumar, an engineering student.

“Perhaps, this department has seen a facelift ever since CV Anand took charge. The department has been active both online and offline and they have made good changes to traffic policies. But a lot more has to be done, especially the security and policing on the ORR road where so many people have lost their lives,” says Syed Mubbasheer, a High Court advocate.

Citizens also feel that the root cause of rash driving in this City would be solved if the police department played a bigger role during driving license grants. “There is so much corruption and malpractice in the RTA that it is of no surprise that everybody has a car or a bike to drive in the City. The police department should look into this urgently as it will help solve a lot of problems,” says Neha Mitra, a call centre employee.

Tags: and free left, AV Srinivas, campaigns against drunk driving, CV Anand, featured, full-image, modified vehicles, RTA, rule enforcement, Syed Mubbasheer, tinted windows on vehicles, traffic cops, unruly traffic

Category: City, City News