In a city where traffic congestion and chaos on the roads are a regular happening, besides policemen, traffic wardens, road safety patrol volunteers (school students) and senior road safety patrols (college students) are also involved in regulating traffic.
Realising the need to create awareness about the dangers of flouting traffic rules among students, the Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Wardens Organisation (Coimbatore City Unit) has formed Road Safety Patrol (RSP) units to motivate and train students.
According to N. Kennedy, Chief Traffic Warden of Tamil Nadu Police Traffic Warden Organisation, the main reason for the congestion is increase in the number of vehicles plying on the roads and lack of awareness and patience on the part of the road users.
Learning starts at a young age and students interested in riding motor vehicles must be aware of their responsibilities and traffic regulations.
“About 100 interested students are selected every year in a college and trained under the Senior Road Safety Patrol. Only 10 out of these are selected as traffic wardens and given khaki uniform. They are made to regulate traffic before their college gate, during the morning rush hour,” he said.
As of now, over 125 schools and five colleges in the city had taken up the RSP programme. Under the guidance of the police authorities, a strict set of criteria is maintained to select students for Traffic Warden Organisation.
School students of VIII and IX classes are only selected as RSP cadets. Over 450 students in schools and 400 students in colleges are selected and trained at present. The contribution of the RSP cadets and traffic wardens are appreciated by the police authorities and even awards are given to them. Students will be reviewed based on their performance and given special awards for their service.
The strength of the organisation, which was 50 during its inception in 1987, had risen up only to 65 at present. The sanctioned strength for the city police is 200 wardens. “Only degree holders are eligible for getting into SI rank cadets. By initiating the constable rank in Traffic Warden Organisation, even school graduates can get into this voluntary service,” says Mr. Kennedy.
