Cops use drama to promote road safety

Observing July as a Road Safety Month, the traffic police are conducting lectures and putting up street plays to drive home their message of safe driving.

On July 25, they put up a show near Town hall. Banners which read ‘Do not drink and drive’, ‘Wear helmet for your safety’ and ‘Think before you speed’ were held up throughout the show.

Talking about the novel campaign, Ashok Nagar Traffic inspector Viji Kumar said, “We did not hire any actors. The play is wholly and solely written and enacted by the members of the department. They have taken time out from their busy schedules to practice for this.”

“Each individual must remember the people waiting for them back home before drinking rashly,” said Mari Swamy, head constable who played Yama Raja, the God of Death, in the play.

Anupam Agrawal, Deputy Commissioner of Traffic Police, says plays will be staged till July 31 in Shantinagar, Ashok Nagar, Shadashivanagar and Sampangi Nagar.

Agreeing that people mostly followed traffic rules only when a traffic cop was in the vicinity, Aditya, a law student who watched the play said that it was the duty of every citizen to abide by traffic rules, irrespective of circumstances.

Technology to the rescue

Bengaluru Traffic Police also launched an app called ‘Public Eye’, where citizens can post photos of traffic violators.

It’s a sign

A month ago, an actor dressed as ‘Yamaraja’, the God of death, was spotted on the streets of Bengaluru, warning people about the consequences of violating traffic rules.