Malerkotla Police harnesses peer power for controlling underage driving
The traffic wing of the Malerkotla police has set an example to harness peer power for controlling underage driving in the region.
Recognising that the persuasion can be extremely effective when it comes from peers, students of various schools have been roped in to spread awareness among residents and their wards about the necessity of following new traffic rules.
Besides accompanying traffic police during educational workshops, seminars and nakas, the students are volunteering to make appeals through social media and nukad meetings.
“I had applied for a learning license when I turned 16, now I am 18 and a holder of permanent license. I request you all to apply for learner’s driving license when you turn 16,” a student said in a video prepared at a police naka.
The reel insight analysis revealed that the video had raked in 44,17,922 views and 2,63,437 reactions.
District coordinator DSP Ranjit Singh Bains appreciated that cops supervised by traffic in-charge Gurmukh Singh Laddi had roped in students of various schools for persuading their peers to abstain from driving vehicles without obtaining valid driving license.
“Having observed that persuasion can be extremely effective when it comes from peers, we started involving students of senior classes in our events being organised to sensitize residents and their wards on the issue,” said Bains claiming that the endeavour had yielded desired results not only in Malerkotla, but in surrounding localities too.
“As posts uploaded on social media are not restricted to a particular geographical region, appeals made in simple language worked wonders among viewers from various parts of the state. Moreover, the knowledge, experience, emotions and advice contained in the messages by children on different platforms was more trusted by their peers than stereotyped lectures normally delivered by uniformed personnel,” argued Bains.
SSP Gagan Ajit Singh claimed that coordinated efforts by traffic police personnel and authorities at various schools had resulted in a steep fall in the number of underage drivers on roads.
