Traffic violators to get booklets on road safety

Friday, November 21, 2008
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

After stepping up prosecution and deploying manpower even at night to catch violators of traffic rules, the cops are now turning to
innovative means in a bid to teach Delhiites how to drive better. Starting Tuesday, motorists getting challaned will be handed a detailed booklet on road safety and laws, which is expected to "educate'' them about the law and make them better drivers.

As part of the exercise, aimed at making Delhi roads safer by instilling more discipline among drivers, traffic policemen deployed all around the city have been handed a book, `A Guide to Road Safety', which is being given out free of cost to every driver prosecuted for a traffic offence along with the challan slip. The booklet, created in-house by Delhi Police, details the rules of driving on the roads, qualities of a good driver, road safety tips, road markings and signs, major traffic offences concerning safety and speed limits.

The different approach adopted by the cops took motorists by surprise. "I was stopped for crossing the stop line on Mathura Road. Just as I started explaining how it was a mistake, the policeman issuing the challan gave me a small book with the slip. He asked me to read it thoroughly so that I become a better driver,'' said Munish Kumar, who was prosecuted near Pragati Maidan.

In a scenario where getting a driving license is an easy task and large section of those who are actually granted the license have little knowledge of the rules that they are actually supposed to adhere to on the road, the booklet could go a long way in educating Delhi's masses.

According to the traffic police, over 95 per cent of the accidents are a result of careless behaviour on roads and can be prevented with better driving. As joint commissioner of police (traffic), SN Shrivastava, puts it: "The idea of prosecution is to penalise people so that they don't repeat the offence. But we were noticing that prosecution is not having this impact. In order to ensure effectiveness, the book is given out too.''