Games see fewer traffic offences

Wednesday, Oct 13, 2010



Strict enforcement of traffic rules on Delhi's roads during the Commonwealth Games has improved the traffic discipline in the city, as the traffic violations have gone down drastically. The number of violations witnessed a steep decline in the first week during the Games as compared to the same period in the previous month.

While only one FIR has been registered so far for trespassing into the dedicated lanes, the average daily violations on the remaining roads have reduced by nearly two-thirds. According to the Delhi Traffic Police record, 52,165 violators were prosecuted from September 3 to 9, which came down to 18,635 during the same period in October with the Commonwealth Games in progress.

Officials pointed out that heavy deployment of traffic cops on the Games routes marked in almost all parts of the city helped control the traffic violations. "General observance of traffic rules has been much more during the Commonwealth Games and especially after the dedicated lane restrictions were strictly imposed from September 25 onwards. This prompted the general commuters to maintain the traffic discipline on the remaining roads as well," said Ajay Chadha, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

He admitted that the saturation of traffic personnel has been more on the Games lanes and in providing escort to the athletes and officials, yet no major traffic chaos has been reported from any part of the city during this period. "This is an indication of general traffic discipline and less violation on the roads," he claimed.

Going by the figures, the total number of prosecution in the Capital for all violations on September 3 was 6,833, which was only 1,473 on the same date in October. Similarly, the figures on September 9 and October 9 were 9,220 and 2,852 respectively. According to the Delhi Traffic Police, the average daily prosecution during the Commonwealth Games has been less than 2,500, which is almost equal to the total prosecution on CWG lanes.

As many as 2,404 motorists have been prosecuted for entering dedicated lanes till Tuesday afternoon since the commencement of the Commonwealth Games last Sunday. While, 2,068 errant drivers were challaned on the spot by the police, 309 were issued notices for entering into the restricted lane and 28 vehicles were impounded.

However, the police registered just a single FIR for contravention of section 144 imposed on the Games lanes in all the three ranges during this period. The lone FIR was registered in Pul Prahladpur police station in the Southern Range. According to a police official, the offender has been booked under Section 188 of IPC and Motor Vehicle Act.

Original news source http://www.dailypioneer.com/289390/Games-see-fewer-traffic-offences.html