After deciding to observe March as the Pedestrian Safety month in order to minimise road accidents involving pedestrians, the City Traffic Police have so far booked as many as 7,509 cases against motorists parking their vehicles on the footpaths, besides 2,350 for plying their vehicles on the footpaths.
In addition, a total of 4,112 cases had been booked against hawkers encroaching footpaths.
Accident rate
On an average, two persons are killed in road accidents that occur in and around Bangalore every day and at least one among them is a pedestrian, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem said.
In addition to the deaths, thousands of pedestrians sustain severe injuries.
One of the main reasons for such casualties is encroachment of footpaths by motorists and hawkers forcing them to walk on the road and making them susceptible to accidents, Mr. Saleem said.
Warning
Footpaths are meant for pedestrians and anyone who occupies and encroaches them will be severely dealt with, Mr. Saleem said, adding that the traffic police have initiated a drive this month to clear the footpath encroachment and slapping fines against motorists using them for parking and as thoroughfares .
