Y.S. RANA ,CHANDIGARH—NOV 24—The stick-and-carrot policy, adopted by the Chandigarh Traffic Police aimed at regulating traffic rules violations and to make travel on roads less painful has clicked.
Responsible for better management of vehicular movement, road safety measures and other activities related to motor vehicle rules enforcement it has stepped up challaning of the habitual offenders, coupled with an intensive drive to educate vehicle drivers especially youngsters, on traffic rules pay rich dividends. There is an increase of (8 times) in the number of challans for various traffic rules violations compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to the police records, in 2011 around 2221 over speeders were challaned. The number of such challans increased to 17,000 in 2012 including 192 women and thus registered an eight times increase.
Resultantly, the city has witnessed a decline trend in fatal road accidents, both fatal and non-fatal and brought the Chandigarh Police a pat on its back. According to police data, 99 fatal road accidents were reported in 2012 till October, against 129 fatal accidents in 2011 whereas number of such accidents was high in 2010 which was 132.
Since 2007, the city has recorded decline in number deaths in road accidents. While the number of accidents declined to 437 in 2011 from 456 in 2010, the number of those who died in road accidents came to 136 (in 2011) from 138 (in 2010), according to police sources.
Till October 2012, number of deaths in road accidents was 103. Yet as per the data of 2012, after every third day, one fatal road accident is occurred on city’s roads. Whereas figure of non-fatal accidents has improved as 246 accidents were reported till October-2012 against 308 reported in 2011 and 324 in 2010.
The number of injured in road accidents stands at 283 till October this year against 370 in 2011 and 415 in 2010. Increase in cases of drunken driving is a matter of concern for the police. While till November 19, 4021 have been challaned for drunken driving compared to 4679 in last year.
The official of police department stated that with decline in number of accidents in all types, the total number of road accidents have also come down to 345 till October 2012 against 437 in 2011 and 456 in 2010.
While talking to The India Post the official said that the Chandigarh police have been working on a two-pronged strategy. While they were educating people, especially youngsters, through conducting safety exhibitions/workshops being organized in schools, colleges and at public places and imparting them training in traffic rules, on the other hand, they were vigilant about traffic violations and quite strict with the offenders.