Bangalore: Traffic violations take a left turn

In what appears to be a continuing trend, traffic rules are floated with impunity on Bangalore’s roads and there is very little the authorities are able to do to keep a check on the violators.

As per the stats released by the Bangalore City traffic police, over 2,25,000 motorists were booked for violating traffic rules in 2012. This year, the figure exceeded the one lakh mark by May itself.

Ganesh Karnik of the BJP, who raised this issue in the legislative council on Thursday, slammed the traffic police for not taking appropriate action against the offenders.

Dangerous driving, especially overtaking from the left side, has emerged as a trend in the city, endangering people’s lives, he said and questioned the government about the measures it has taken to address this menace.

In a written reply to Karnik’s query, home minister KJ George stated that the government has taken a note of the issue and that the police department has been instructed to take strict action in this regard. George added that a slew of awareness programmes were carried out for months in the city. Banners and posters of former cricketer Rahul Dravid, who is the brand ambassador of the initiative, encouraging people to uphold traffic rules were put up at various strategic junctions in the city, George said.

Similarly, tough action has been initiated against traffic rule violators. Traffic policemen have been instructed to be on the look out for reckless motorists, especially those who overtake from the left, and the driving licence of about 260 traffic violators were cancelled.

A special campaign was carried out to create awareness among motorists about the perils of overtaking from the left side.