The Transport Department’s continued enforcement of rules is yet to have any major effect on the city’s vehicle users, but it is slowly working towards ensuring compliance.
Three particular areas of focus in the past three months deserve special mention. The targeting of vehicles with focus lights and those with shrill horns has resulted in several violations being recorded and vehicles being seized.
Complementing this is the recent drive by the traffic police against those driving with high beams. However, there is a lot of work that remains to be done according to residents who live near major roads.
“They removed shrill horns. These extra lights which are fitted on vehicles should also be removed. You have these cabs pull up behind you at night with four headlights and they drive very aggressively. It becomes very difficult to see ahead. When they drive in the opposite lane, it is blinding,” complains Arvind T., a resident of Old Madras Road.
The traffic police has booked around 5,000 cases each for dazzling headlights and shrill horns since January. However, the sheer numbers of vehicles in the city makes it a daunting task. “We are very serious about enforcing these rules. Shrill horns and focus lights should not be used and we are taking strict action against violators,” a senior official from the Transport Department says. However, may more argue that night time checking is the right way to go about it.
“If they stand on the roads and stop these people in the night when the headlights are on, it will be better. It is not just headlights now. LED lights with dazzling red or blue colours are also becoming a major problem. Most of these vehicles are cabs. The drivers can be caught and taught a lesson easily. I hope officials will be on the road at night as well,” says Kaushik Chatterjee, a resident of Old Airport Road.
Reporting by
AVINASH BHAT
