“Don’t watch her behind. Keep safety in mind”- The cover photo of the Motor Vehicles Department’s official facebook page just puts it straight to the followers. It is not just this warning that catches the attention of a net-savvy youth on this page, but the ample space available beneath the picture to share true information on road law violators and pull them up with the support of MVD officials.
“The young and old alike are responding warmly to the online initiative – Third Eye – through which we have already come across over 500 cases of traffic violations within the Kozhikode Regional Transport Office limit,” says Regional Transport Officer Rajiv Puthalath. According to him, an average of four complaints land daily on the facebook page, which are treated very seriously.
One can be at full ease while posting live photographs of violations and other details as the department never tried to check his or her whereabouts in the course of enquiry in normal cases. In most of the cases, only the authenticity of details posted on the facebook wall are checked to take appropriate action. One will have to worry only if his or her complaint is a fabricated one.
MVD officials who administer the facebook page and an e-mail connected to the account share that they have pulled up several drivers based on the information they gathered through the newest online initiative. Speed-limit violations, haphazard parking, overloading, misuse of official vehicles, use of illegible fancy numbers and the banned cooling films are the most repeated complaints on the facebook page, they point out.
On phone too
In Kozhikode RT office, there are two officials, who regularly monitor the facebook page and act promptly on the complaints. People who wish to clarify about their picture or details posted on the facebook have also been extended the freedom to contact the MVD officials on phone and pass the information.
“A major impact which we could feel through the initiative is the declining number of instances where government officials misuse their official vehicles. Just a photograph with the vehicle number would be sufficient to act on such occasions,” says Mr. Puthalath. Already, 26,880 persons have liked the page – facebook.com/mvdkerala – and shared their willingness to cooperate with the MVD initiative. Along with the facebook page, the well-wishers of road safety can also make use of the email KL11@keralamvd.gov.in or mvdkerala@gmail.com.
