Mysuru City Police intensify traffic safety norms; yet many flout norms

Mysuru: They are on the road at all weathers, at all points of day and night, keeping the priority of safety of people above their own health and personal life. But some people continue to neglect their own safety and of other commuters on the roads and flout traffic norms blatantly. This, despite intense traffic awareness measures, regulation drives, double the number of traffic violation cases booked than previous year and penalisation by the Mysore City Traffic Police.

There have been 1130 accidents and as many as 172 people have died in 161 fatal accidents and 1156 people are injured in 969 non fatal accidents in Mysuru city in 2024. There were 953 accidents and 168 deaths due to 162 fatal accidents and 984 were injured in 791 non fatal accidents in 2023.

City traffic police led by Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, DCP (Crime and Traffic) S Jahnavi and ACP Traffic, Mysuru city, H Parashuramappa have booked 21,48,577 traffic rule violation cases under Indian Motor Vehicle Act in 2024 compared to 11,68,888 cases in 2023.

In 2024 collected Rs 5.84 crore fine apart from Rs 1.64 Crore collected as Court fine. They have booked 1811 cases for drunken driving; 8,96,833 cases for riding without helmets and 4,04,073 for pillion driver not wearing helmet; 33,644 cases for triple riding, 29 cases for wheeling.

They have booked thousands of cases for overspeeding, reckless driving, using mobile phones while driving, driving without seat belt, for not following lane discipline, for using one ways; few for jumping red light traffic signal, zig zag driving, riding on footpath; using high beam lights, dazzling headlight, footpath parking, for carrying excess passengers, carrying passengers in goods vehicles.

But still, some people continue to be negligent. Ten have died due to drunk and driving, nine for not wearing helmets. Many have died due to over speeding, few have due to unscientific road bumps too. Few pedestrians have also died in accidents.

Traffic police officials said that they have communicated to Mysore City Corporation to remove some old unscientific road bumps during the road safety committee meeting.

Maj Gen Sudhir Vombatkere Retd) who holds a PhD in civil structural dynamics from IIT, Madras, analyses, "A tally of deaths in accidents should not divert attention from non-death debilitating injuries, which are more in number. All these victims are a loss to their families, their community and the nation. Driving below the mandated speed limit of 40-kmph within city limits is the first prevention-method for accidents at a speed breaker. The second prevention-method is to have both hands firmly holding the handle bars, and concentrate attention on the road surface and on other road users. However 'scientific' a speed breaker may be, it is speed that is the killer, not the speed breaker. Of course, speed breakers must be marked by painted stripes, and re-painting when the paint fades. Pedestrians being hit by motor vehicles, is mostly because they are obliged to walk on the carriageway, due to the footpath being unwalkable for several reasons," he said.

H R Shankar Kumar, a Software professional felt that, except for very few accidents due to genuine reasons like brake failure, most are caused due to driver or pedestrian negligence.

"Many cross the roads other than fixed pathways; over speed, jump signals for just craze; won't wear helmet thinking it will spoil hair style; many enter one way roads to save time; jump barricades to avoid walking a bit far distance; use mobile phones even while driving. They should remember their families would be waiting for them at home and should take proper conscious care when they are on roads," he said.

Nanjil Anand, a scientist, expert consultant and President of an NGO, suggested there should be better road humps with visible illuminating paints like they have put around Chamaraja circle; install boards mandatorily alerting about road humps before 50 to 100 meters. Google maps should also provide details on speed bumps. Life saviors should be rewarded to motivate people to save lives of accident victims in golden hour, he said.

President of Mysore Grahakara Parishat, Bhamy V Shenoy said, "People disregard and violate traffic rules blatantly, with overconfidence that they would not be caught. Experiences, services and suggestions of efficient retired police officials should be utilised for reducing accident fatalities," he said.

P Anarghya, a student felt, "Traffic police should stop and penalise people only when they flout MV rules, not randomly especially in the morning when they are heading for work or some emergencies," she said.

Mysuru City Police Commissioner, Seema Latkar said that they will continue to intensify traffic awareness, regulations and drives. People should sincerely follow Traffic rules for their own safety, she said.