The traffic police, who were entrusted with the task of disciplining errant motorists, were put in the driver’s seat on Sunday as part of a 48-kilometre road safety drive.
The event conducted by the traffic police, in association with the National Road Safety Organisation (NSRO), a non-governmental organisation, sought to induce discipline among motorists and test the driving skills of the policemen.
As many as 40 traffic police officers participated in the drive in their private vehicles, accompanied by a family member, to help navigate the route with the help of the Road Book containing directions to the destination.
Titled as “Flashing Stars on Wheels”, the event saw police officials of the rank of the Police Inspector and above drive from the Traffic Management Centre on Infantry Road, through Old Airport Road, Belandur, Marathahalli, Sarjapur Ring Road and Jigani before concluding at Tribal Village resort, 5 km from Bannerghatta Circle.
President of NSRO Shankar Sathyapal said that the crucial part of the drive was to maintain certain time, speed and distance.
There were also check-points (time control) at which the participants stopped and got the time entered in their cards. Missing the check points, and late or early check-ins were considered as penalty points.
Based on the number of penalty points, the top three awards were given to the officers and their navigators in three different age categories — 30-40; 40-50 and 50-60.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) B. Dayanand flagged off the drive.
The overall champions of the drive were M.N. Baburajendra Prasad, DCP Traffic (East), Raja Imam Kasim, Old Airport Traffic Inspector and Chandradhar S.R., Indiranagar Traffic Inspector.
