Ready for a hard ride

SPORTING RED reflector jackets and helmets, they zoom away on two- wheelers. As the engines keep running, an instructor gives instructions over a public address system on safety tips to be adopted while driving.

This is part of a training session on `safe riding' which is in progress for the police personnel at the Traffic Office in Vepery. The trainees include four women police sub- inspectors who have recently joined the force.

``It is not a new experience for us,'' claims Ms. Sasikala. A former student of Presidency College, she is now a sub-inspector attached to Villivakkam police station.

``Already during our training period we were taught to handle motorcycles and a jeep. These lessons have sharpened our skills,'' she adds.

For Ms. Manjula, the training has only added to her confidence. For the former student of Ethiraj College, her husband, a businessman, was the source of support and inspiration to join the force. Posted as sub-inspector in JJ Nagar she is bubbling with ideas and raring to go. Whether it will be smooth sailing in the jaded precincts of the Police force, is a moot question.

Back to the training, the schedule includes riding over `obstacles', which ``is bound to be useful while driving on the city roads''. For the instructor himself is heard advising the students to master the technique as it would help them negotiate `potholes' on the city roads.

Ms. Wahitha Begum, rides over the obstacle course with ease. ``I enjoyed driving a jeep during my training period at the Police Training College.'' This sub-inspector attached to Guindy police station, had her education at Udumalpet.

If the confidence that emanates from the other woman sub- inspector trainee Ms. Vanitha of Anna Nagar police station is any indication, it will not be long before they take over the traffic policing from their male counterparts.

The credit for the emphasis on safety training is being given to the city Police Commissioner, Mr. K. Muthukaruppan. Hopefully, we will see the Commissioner at the most difficult traffic intersections at random, to see for himself how many untrained drivers are wreaking havoc on the road.

By S. Shivakumar

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