How rampant is jaywalking in the city? In barely six months since the city traffic police took up the matter, over 2,200 people have been penalised for choosing the ‘short cut’ – which may involve some amount of acrobatics at medians and avoiding oncoming traffic – rather than ‘walking a little further’ towards designated crossings.
“This is a record for not just the city, but for the State,” said M.A. Saleem, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic).
The police launched their anti-jaywalking drive in June at the busy Hosur Road where hundreds of people risk limb and life to make it to the other side. Eventually, the net has been cast wider to include busy areas such as Upparpet and Kempegowda Bus Stand. “We’ll intensify this on airport road, which has seen several pedestrian deaths of late,” he said.
Steep fines A look at the FIRs filed shows that jaywalkers are booked under the Karnataka Police Act 92(G), which states penalty for ‘causing obstruction on any foot-way, or drives, rides or leaves any animal or drives, drags or pushes any vehicle thereupon’. The fine under this Act is Rs. 110.
However, the Karnataka Traffic Control Act, 1960 is quoted for penalising jaywalkers. The section states that the fine for violations can be ‘extended’ by Rs. 10, says Vinay Sreenivas from Alternative Law Forum. “The jaywalkers are fined Rs. 110, which can only be paid in front of a judge. Many of those caught aren’t even told they have the option to challenge this,” he says.
Mr. Saleem said the ‘all encompassing’ Police Act was used for the lack of a specific provision for jaywalking. “We are treating walking on the road as an obstruction to traffic movement. When it comes to jaywalking, the police do not have the authority for spot fines,” he said.
Traffic expert M. N. Sreehari says that spot fines are not a deterrent. “Spot fines often lead to corruption where constables demand money lesser than the fine amount. Taking someone to court is a deterrent while even the court can be told of the lack of pedestrian facilities,” he said.
Caught between cars and cops While jaywalking can affect the flow of traffic, many pedestrians say that they have little choice, given the woefully inadequate infrastructure to help them cross busy roads. With the police crackdown, the fear lies between dodging heavy traffic and the men in white waiting to penalise them.
Traffic expert M. N. Sreehari believes that action by traffic police should not be taken on roads where crossings are few and far between. “Infrastructure in many places is very poor. Awareness drives should be conducted instead of stringent fines,” he said, adding that as a thumb-rule, penalisation should only occur at places with no crossings less than 500m away.
No one wants to build a skywalk
Earlier in June, the BBMP had dangled a tantalising dream before pedestrians: at least 58 additional skywalks across the city. The traffic police had identified 100 spots where elevated or underground crossings are necessary.
But the tenders revealed a lack of interest in the project. Barely 30 skywalks were awarded; the rest didn’t even receive a single bid as contractors saw little return on investment; revenue comes through advertisements on skywalks.
“We have identified more places. Around 45 skywalks will be proposed in the tender process. We will also change the terms. A 30-year licence will be offered to contractors instead of 20 years to make it more lucrative for bidders,” said B.R. Kabade, Executive Engineer, Traffic Engineering Cell, BBMP.
However, this doesn’t guarantee safer crossing points for citizens any time soon. Going by the track record of construction of skywalks, it may take years for these plans to come to fruition. In the last financial year (April 2014 to March 2015), just five skywalks were built, but BBMP officials expect to see six new ones by March 2016. “Problems range from court stays, lack of footpath width and even corporators asking for shifting of the skywalks to other locations,” said a BBMP official.
Pedestrian deaths
Year | Deaths* |
2015 (till November 30) | 311 |
2014 | 331 |
2013 | 382 |
2012 | 358 |
2011 | 367 |
2010 | 400 |
(*Includes all pedestrian-related cases and not just those crossing the road)
Dangerous stretches
Hosur Road
Airport Road
City Market
Upparpete
Kempegowda Bus Stand
The action so far
2,229 jaywalkers penalised
Campaign began in June
Under the law
Section 6 (4) of Karnataka Traffic Control Rules 1976 that defines Jaywalking
Section 94(G) of the Karnataka Police act, 1963 that imposes a fine of Rs. 100
Section 18 of Karnataka Traffic Control Act, 1960 that fixes penalty as Rs. 10
