Ambulance behind? Give way or pay up

Friday, Sep 10, 2010



Callous motorists who deny passage to emergency vehicles - ambulances, fire tenders and police control room vans - will now pay a price. Delhi police  has launched a special drive since Wednesday to challan vehicles that block these services, the first time that this rule of the Motor Vehicles Act has been put into effect. Until Thursday evening, 243 vehicles had been challaned, 226 of these being pulled up on Wednesday.

The fine for not allowing passage to emergency vehicles is Rs 100, under sec 7 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Joint commissioner (traffic) Satyendra Garg said the enforcement had begun to ensure lane-driving and to prevent ambulances from getting stuck in jams during the Commonwealth Games.

"There has been no prosecution on this offence till now," admitted special commissioner (traffic) Ajay Chadha, adding that enforcement would now be strict. "Once you spot an emergency vehicle like police van, fire tender or ambulance with siren, you have to move to the extreme left of the road and stop your vehicle. You cannot even move your vehicle till the emergency vehicles cross you," Chadha said.

He said the traffic police had educated commuters on this rule in the first week of September. "We have gone for some dummy runs. We have first educated them and then proceeded with the prosecution," said Garg.

While 17 prosections (five for ambulance and 12 for PCR obstruction) was made in New Delhi and south districts on Wednesday, the rest of the prosecution took place on Thursday all through the city.

In another significant decision, the Delhi traffic police said it would enforce stricter restrictions on two-lane roads in which a lane was earmarked for CWG vehicles. "We will not allow any overtaking of buses on the non-CWG lanes by cars and other vehicles if the bus is in motion. Overtaking will be allowed only at specified points near bus stops when the bus is static, under specific directions of the traffic cops. This will help us counter jams due to stagnant buses" said Garg. Personnel from NCC, Nagaland police and the Nirankari Mandal will also help direct traffic during the Games, traffic police said.

Original news source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Ambulance-behind-Give-way-or-pay-up/articleshow/6527464.cms#ixzz0z6Z0k6Tu