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BMTC drivers don’t ply by the rules

In three months, over 8,500 cases have been booked against them, mostly for jumping signals.

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In the first three months alone this year, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) surpassed its 'achievement' of 2011. Never mind that this 'accomplishment' makes the organisation hang its head in shame.

While the city traffic police had booked 6,000-odd cases against BMTC drivers in 2011, as many as 8,519 cases were booked from January to March this year. City traffic police on Thursday released details of the offenses under which BMTC drivers were booked for various offenses under the Motor Vehicles Act.

One-third of all the cases this year were for jumping traffic signal. More than half of the cases this year were regarding stopping the bus at undesignated areas. One hundred fifty-nine drivers were booked for reckless driving and two were booked for driving under the influence of liquor.

MA Saleem, additional commissioner of police (traffic and security), said the traffic police had sent notices to the BMTC and efforts were being made to collect penalty from them. "We are being strict with BMTC drivers who violate traffic rules," he said.

"Right now, we are even contemplating a recommendation to the Regional Transport Offices to cancel licences of repeat offenders," he said.

"I think strict action should be taken by the traffic police," said Ramya Vasudevan, a student who commutes by bus every day. "Most drivers do not even stop at designated bus stops, but a few metres before or after the stop. We have to run behind the buses and if we do not run fast enough, we miss the bus," she said.
"A lot of drivers do need a lesson in traffic rules," she said.

Helpless
Veeregowda GN, chief traffic manager (commercial), BMTC, said if the drivers are booked for stopping the bus at undesignated areas, that is because bus bays are usually occupied by pushcarts and autorickshaws, forcing drivers to stop the bus before or after the stop.

The managing director of BMTC, KR Srinivas, said a closer look needed to be taken on the offenses before cancelling drivers' licences. "Certain minor offenses only need corrective action and driving licences need not be cancelled," he said, adding that the corporation was taking efforts to train drivers on traffic rules.

"There are regular traffic training programmes, sometimes done exclusively for drivers in traffic control centre by the traffic police to create awareness on traffic rules. This will help reduce the number of offenses," he said.

Veeregowda said strict action was being taken against drivers who commit offenses. "Fines, increment cuts, disciplinary action and even suspension of drivers are done, based on the severity of the crime. The corporation also has 12 Sarathi vehicles that are on rounds every day to ensure that drivers follow the rules."

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