With more and more BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses violating traffic rules, police have decided to recommend to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) the suspension of the errant drivers’ licences.

Common traffic violations by BMTC buses are jumping traffic signals, taking illegal diversions to interior roads, wrong parking and getting into no-entry zones. Drivers are also found using mobile phone on the job. The violations not only lead to chaos but also endanger passengers’ lives. But drivers don’t care because they think the bus is a government vehicle which is not registered in their name, official sources in the traffic police said. In short, they don’t fear the law.

In the past, the traffic police had issued several warnings to the drivers to deter them from violating the rules but to no avail. They are now fed up and have decided to deal strictly with the violations. Recommending suspension of driving licences is a step in that direction.

Traffic police officers said they had received many complaints from the public on the violations by the BMTC buses. The complaints were received on the police’s Facebook page and the official website. Accordingly, action was taken on these complaints.

But there is little respite in such cases. Hence, the traffic police have decide to crack down on the violations. “In case of traffic violations by individuals, we take the same action. Law is equal for all. BMTC drivers cannot get a different treatment,” a senior traffic police officer said.

People who travel by BMTC buses regularly share the traffic police’s observation. “Many bus drivers park in no-parking zones or drive into no-entry zones to get alcohol from liquor shops located on the roadside. The driver or the conductor will slow down to buy liquor by stopping in the middle of the road or at an unauthorised place.” said V Gururaj, a senior citizen who has been commuting by BMTC buses for years now. “This way, they put passengers to inconvenience.”

A BMTC official said the corporation would not tolerate such violations, and repeat offenders would be suspended.
DH News Service