Open house: What steps should the administration take to instil fear of the law in motorists?

Instill fear of law among drivers

The first step required to make the roads safer for commuters is to instill the fear of penalties in the minds of road users, like in Chandigarh. We all know that once people enter the Union Territory of Chandigarh, they quickly abide by all traffic and safety rules. But in our city, people still don’t bother to use a helmet and avoid using mobile phones while driving. The traffic police in Punjab are usually positioned at crossings or busy roundabouts. But what we need is police patrolling on all busy roads to locate, warn or challan the violators and irresponsible/uncivilised drivers. Traffic lights must be properly maintained. There must be a speed limit on all city roads and it should be strictly imposed. But the police and the district administration may have their own constraints as has happened in checking of teenage driving. Every vehicle on the road should be checked for valid documents and proof of ownership. A chip should be fixed on the vehicle to confirm that it has been checked and verified and the vehicle owner should bear the cost of the chip. This will reduce the number of vehicles and drivers on the roads. At present, anybody can pitch tents on a public road for a family or religious function or langar. This in itself becomes a traffic hazard as there is no warning sign or post to caution that the road ahead is blocked. The administration has appeared helpless in checking this violation by the people. There should be a strict law to stop this blatant misuse of public roads. Another eyesore is to park vehicles anywhere and anytime, adding to the chaos on the roads. Wrong side overtaking and sticking to one’s lane is seldom followed. Vehicles emitting black smoke and dusty opaque rear wind shields are often seen on the roads. It should be mandatory for violators of traffic rules to attend an instructional lecture on these rules. The district police should have a permanent and regular lecture once a week. Any driver who is issued a challan should be made to compulsorily attend the lecture as part of punishment.

Bholla Singh Sidhu

Widen roads, deploy efficient cops

In our city, there has been an increase in traffic violations because of over-speeding by vehicles, not listening to horns, seeing and understanding of indicators by commuters. Moreover, misuse of mobile phones and the hasty nature of commuters who want to cross their vehicles first have worsened the problem. In order to ensure compliance with traffic rules, the foremost step that the administration should take is to hire young, strict and honest policemen who can take action and enforce the law. The second step required is to impose not only a huge fine on violators but also make provisions for throwing them into jails. Last, but not the least, in order to encourage one-way driving for safer roads, the administration should try to widen roads throughout our city.

Sanjay Chawla

Body-worn cameras can reduce violations

Traffic violations have increased. They cause a lot of accidents. There are so many reasons for accidents like poorly maintained roads, inadequate road signs and poorly designed intersections that create dangerous situations for drivers and pedestrians. Poor quality of vehicles on the road that do not meet minimum safety standards (airbags, seat belts and anti-knock brakes), puts the lives of drivers, passengers and other road users at risk. The drivers have old licences. They are not up-to-date with the latest road safety practices. Drinking should be prohibited while driving. Using mobiles also causes accidents. If any person is found drinking and using mobile phones, he should be fined heavily. Body-worn cameras can decrease accidents on the road because this method is adopted in Chandigarh and has succeeded. Body-worn cameras are used by the policemen under the helmet and under the uniform; these cameras take photos and record conversations. These photos and conversations can be used in court as evidence. The culprits cannot deny the road rule violation, and no one can raise a question on the police’s honesty. Moreover, upgrading road conditions, improving signage, proper lighting and enforcing traffic laws against speeding and drunken driving, improving driver education and licensing, and launching public awareness campaigns can decrease traffic violations.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Educate people on traffic rules

As traffic is increasing day by day in our city and also due to narrow roads, we observe huge traffic jams on the roads. Above all, police officials cannot be deployed at all spots due to a shortage of staff. Therefore, education and awareness among citizens about traffic rules is needed. Traffic police should regularly prepare advisory route maps to avoid big jams, which should be available on websites and in mobile applications. Moreover, the PWD department that prepares roads should properly and regularly mark areas to differentiate space for pedestrian and traffic movement. Also, in all schools and even in offices, education about traffic signs should be imparted so that people become aware of rules. No doubt, people flouting the rules should be fined, but maximum focus should be on challans as it represents nothing but our own unaware and uneducated society. The collected amount from fines is revenue for the government, but simultaneously it also shows its own failures about the level of education of people it represents. Moreover, fines are equal for all segments of the public and not according to the income earning level of rule-breakers.

Harvinder Singh Chugh

Create a culture of road safety

To enhance road safety, the administration must prioritise the maintenance of roads, ensuring that these are well-paved, properly lit, clearly signed, and marked distinctly. The incorporation of safety design features, such as crash barriers, guardrails and rumble strips can significantly contribute to safer driving conditions. Intersection safety can be improved with the installation of traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and designated turning lanes. Increasing traffic police presence and regular patrolling can effectively deter reckless driving and reinforce adherence to traffic laws. Installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations can help monitor and capture violations. Public awareness campaigns are essential for educating drivers, pedestrians and cyclists about road safety. Utilising media outreach and community engagement can effectively disseminate important safety information. Additionally, offering driver education programmes that include training sessions and workshops focused on defensive driving can promote responsible behaviour behind the wheels. Moreover, the implementation of intelligent transportation system including traffic management, speed cameras, automatic licence plate recognition technology, and smart traffic signals designed to optimise signal timing, should be improved. This can help reduce congestion and minimise accidents. Data-driven decision-making should guide safety initiatives by analysing real-time data related to road accidents and traffic patterns. It is vital to consistently implement strict traffic laws addressing reckless driving, over-speeding, and driving under the influence of intoxicants. Heavy penalties should be imposed on offenders to deter unsafe behaviour. Finally, fostering a culture of road safety through community engagement and public-private partnerships can contribute to long-lasting improvements in overall road safety. For a prompt and effective response to road accidents, the recently created Sadak Surakhya Force should be further strengthened, and all government vehicles, especially those of Municipal Corporation, should have proper display and registration plates.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Conduct seminars in schools and colleges

Revolution in manufacturing and running of e-rickshaws, violating of traffic rules, drivers failing to follow traffic rules while lifting passengers, stopping in the middle of the road to pick a passenger can all result in a mishap. Similarly, footpaths are on the roads but encroachment by small traders for selling of various items result in inconvenience to traders and pedestrians. the e-rickshaws and three-wheelers are banned from 8 am to 8 pm from Punjab National Bank Chowk (near Municipal Corporation) to Basti Adda. The e-rickshaws have upset traffic in the internal bazaars of the city, mainly Rainak Bazaar, Saida Chowk Gate, Attari Bazaar, Mitha Bazaar, Phoolan Wala Chowk , Brandrath Road, Bhagat Singh Chowk to Adda Hoshiarpur, Adda Hoshiarpur to Patel Chowk via Mai Hira Gate, GPO Chowk to Shastri Market Chowk to railway station, are among the areas that face a fuss of traffic in the city. Encroachment by shopkeepers on both sides in Rainak Bazar adds to chaos. The traffic signals are working at various chowks but sometimes violating the traffic signals in a hurry creates a threat for other vehicle owners. The traffic police should guide the vehicle owners not to park their cars on the roads in the internal city and should prefer to park the same at parking lots. The Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner and the administration should point out parking lots which are lying empty or closed and recommend fees for the parking of four-wheelers and two-wheelers. Safety saves and violation of traffic rules sometimes can cost dear. Similarly, the temporary bus halts at Kapurthala Chowk, Nakodar Chowk, PAP Chowk, Hoshiarpur Chowk, and Pathankot Chowk should be modified so that traffic does not halt due to stoppage of buses or bus passengers. All the footpaths which are not in use by the pedestrians should be dismantled, especially from Kamal Palace Chowk to New Court, which are mostly not used for walking by the pedestrians. If the traffic rules are followed properly and safely by the vehicle owners, the traffic hazards will be resolved automatically. Following rules can prove to be helpful in the smooth flow of traffic in the city. The traffic police should hold seminars in schools and colleges to guide and educate the students towards strictly following traffic rules.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Need to police traffic indiscipline

The lack of consistent police surveillance, poorly managed traffic signals, and the thrill of speeding are primary causes of road indiscipline. Overtaking vehicles in the wrong lane has become a common practice in our country, leading to a significant rise in traffic violations. This blatant disregard for traffic rules by drivers has resulted in numerous mishaps and road rage incidents that occur daily. To counter this problem, the state government has taken the commendable step of creating a special Sadak Suraksha Force (SSF) to provide quick assistance to victims of fatal accidents. Another praiseworthy decision is the ban on underage driving, which is particularly prevalent among school-going children. This initiative needs to be implemented swiftly to safeguard innocent lives. Further, to help drivers adhere to prescribed traffic norms and speed limits for different categories of vehicles, roads must feature distinct markings and clear warning signals or diversion indications prominently displayed at strategic points. Additionally, tech-savvy solutions must be adopted to curb the menace of traffic violations, especially by young, impatient drivers who frequently ignore speed limits and traffic signals. Unfortunately, the issue does not stop there, instances of altercations and even fatal injuries to traffic personnel on duty have been reported. Contrary to curbing traffic violations, the number continues to surge as many offenders manage to escape punishment due to some influential connections. Therefore, it is imperative for the administration to maintain round-the-clock vigil through the adoption of the latest technology as part of an intelligent traffic management system. In this direction, the government proposes to introduce high-resolution CCTV surveillance and implement online traffic challans (e-challaning) for violation of traffic rules. This initiative aims to instill road discipline and promote a sense of responsible driving. Initially, this system is being launched in four major towns of Punjab, including the smart city of Jalandhar, on January 26, which could be extended to other cities in future. Additionally, a robust public awareness campaign should be simultaneously carried out to sensitise people and ensure strict compliance with traffic regulations. In this era of advanced technology, such measures are vital to save precious lives and foster a culture of responsible road usage.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Drink-and-drive should be deterred

Punjab is a state growing at a fast pace with Jalandhar as the epicentre of hustle and bustle. People are mostly on the roads throughout the year. The increasing number of four-wheelers on the roads poses a considerable risk to pedestrians and the general public. According to a report published by the government, approximately 12 to 13 individuals are involved in traffic accidents every single day. This statistics highlights not only the dangers that come with vehicular traffic but also the urgent need for safety measures and awareness to protect vulnerable road users. As urban areas continue to grow and traffic volumes rise, the threat to pedestrians becomes ever more significant, raising the importance of implementing effective strategies to mitigate these risks. The government needs to devise ways to prevent traffic violations, prevent accidents and save innocent lives. First and foremost, more and more awareness campaigns and speeches need to be organised to highlight the seriousness of this issue and raise the level of caution amongst the common masses. This alone will prevent so many mishaps. A big reason why there are so many tragic incidents is that people tend to take the law into their own hands and consider road safety as a joke as a large portion of accidents are a result of candidness while driving. Therefore, a stringent law should be passed against the traffic offenders and the level of strictness for punishing the wrongdoers should be raised in order to instill fear in the minds of these people and prevent any reckless or careless behaviour on the road as driving is not a joke. Last, but not the least, more and more traffic police should be deployed specifically on heavily occupied and accident-prone streets to prevent any damage. Also, the traffic police should be equipped with breath alcohol test kits to catch anyone who is drinking and driving. Intoxication is one of the major factors contributing to accidents on roads, especially during the peak hours at night. Lakshit Jindal

Question for next week

There has been a rise in incidents of stray dogs mauling people to death or biting them, especially children, in both urban and rural areas. What steps should the administration take to check such incidents?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (January 30)