Awareness week ends, traffic violations continue

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, January 10
Even after three days of conclusion of the road safety week celebrated by the Mohali Police, not much difference has been observed as traffic violations continue in Zirakpur.

Though traffic cops are busy in intercepting outstation vehicles, especially Delhi numbers, they hardly bother to challan traffic violators.

During the week-long road safety week they were educating people about the traffic rules like wearing helmets, using seat belts, refraining from over-speeding and installing reflectors on the rear of the vehicles. But it seems that this education was only for one week.

A visit to the area reveals that traffic violations are on a rise. Youngsters riding two-wheelers without helmets, vehicles coming on the wrong side of the highway, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws often parked on the roadsides posing a threat to other commuters are common practice.

A Himachal Pradesh-based truck driver alleged that traffic cops usually harass out station truck drivers and ask for “kharcha pani”.

Non-functioning of traffic lights in Zirakpur made traffic jam a routine affair as traffic police was not present on some intersections. Residents claimed that the traffic cops were always busy on their phones.

Zirakpur-based advocate Harinder Pal Singh Ishar said celebrating traffic safety week was a good thing but first the traffic police should educate parents and school teachers about the consequences of traffic violations. He said the school authorities should ban use of two wheelers for minor students.

Meanwhile, SSP, Mohali, GS Bhullar said the traffic safety week would prove to be a big help to streamline the traffic movement and to keep a check on traffic violation in the district. “We are calling the advisory committee meeting on Wednesday to discuss all traffic relating matters in the district,” he added.