Following complaints about private buses running riot in the city, the traffic police have launched a special drive.
Over the last one week, the police registered cases against 87 private bus drivers for their rash and negligent ways, while as many as 745 drivers were fined for minor offences.
“Rash and negligent driving by private bus drivers is the key reason for the rising number of road accidents in Kochi. Most of these drivers show scant regard for fellow motorists, especially those riding two-wheelers,” a senior police officer said.
The latest drive against speeding city buses comes in the wake of an incident earlier this month when a speeding private bus hit a car from behind near Menaka Junction, which eventually turned into a shouting match between the bus crew and the public.
Risking lives
According to officials, bus drivers using mobiles on the job and jumping traffic signals have become far too common these days.
For instance, buses going from Edappally Toll towards Kaloor often violate lane traffic by taking the left side, blocking traffic on the Edappally-Vyttila Bypass.
Absence of cameras
They attribute the flouting of rules by drivers to absence of surveillance cameras in several key points along the arterial roads. Also, the delay in filling top posts in the city police traffic wing has hit the initiation of legal proceedings against errant drivers in a time-bound manner.
Action has also been initiated against around 680 autorickshaw drivers and 2,408 two-wheeler riders.
As part of the drive, the police have requested the public to report traffic violations by calling 9747001099 (whatsapp), 100, and 1090.
