Travel by auto-rickshaw at your own peril

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, December 11

The traffic wing of the Jalandhar police, despite special drives, have failed to initiate action against those auto-rickshaw drivers who are driving recklessly, causing accidents and posing a threat to commuters.

A number of accidents due to auto-rickshaws have already been reported in the city.

On a round to the main chowks and spots where autos are parked, it was found that many auto-rickshaws were violating traffic norms.

These were spotted plying on the wrong side, which was one of the major reasons for accidents. Besides, underage drivers could also be seen driving auto-rickshaws without having a driver’s licence.

An underage driver said he was hired by someone who paid him on a daily basis for the number of passengers he took.

“My boss has managed things for me, he has ‘jugaad’ with officials and that’s the reason nobody asks for my licence or checks it ever,” he added.

There are around over 1,500 auto-rickshaw drivers in the city and most of them are untrained. Many of them are without a driver’s licence and other documents.

Auto-rickshaw drivers stop their vehicles in the middle of the road to pick up passengers without giving any indication. Many autos are found carrying extra passengers.

On an average between four and six accidents occur in the city daily involving auto-rickshaws. A number of cases have been registered in the past around one year.

As per information procured from the traffic wing, 6,182 challans have been issued to the auto-rickshaws in the past 11 months, which involve rash driving, drunk driving, not carrying proper documents, having loud music system, old auto and overloading.

Kamlesh Kumar, a resident of Mota Singh Nagar, said the traffic police were not acting tough against the auto drivers who neither followed traffic norms, nor cared for commuters’ safety.

“A number of autos which carry schoolchildren are violating traffic norms and being driven rashly. Just because auto charges less than a school bus, parents prefer auto as transport. But a regular meeting or seminar involving auto-rickshaw drivers should be conducted by the traffic police to make sure children’s and commuters’ lives are not at risk”, he added.

ACP, Traffic, Harvinder Singh, said, “We are also receiving complaints that auto-rickshaw drivers have been driving irresponsibly on city roads. A regular drive to check those who violate law and not carry documents is going on. A number of challans have also been issued.”

“Apart from that, there are 47 stands from where these auto-rickshaws operate. We are conducting regular checks at auto stands and involving auto unions. We also conduct seminars and programmes to educate them on safe driving,” he added.