After launching a mobile application to keep a check on the city’s traffic conditions and plans of offering a R5 discount on parking charges for two-wheeler riders wearing a helmet, the traffic police are now focussing on road safety campaigns to bring down the number of road accidents.

DCP (Traffic) Vishwas Pandhare discussing the city’s traffic issues at the mid-day office. Pic/Mohan Patil

On an average, nearly 350 two-wheeler riders and 100 pedestrians are killed in road mishaps every year in the city. Despite the city traffic department’s attempts to remedy the situation, the number of fatal accidents is on the rise. One could blame it on the indifferent attitude of citizens, who wish to do as they please, while putting their own life, and that of others, at risk.

To strengthen their awareness campaign in every nook and corner of the city, the traffic police are trying out new approaches to bring about a significant improvement in traffic culture. The department claims that citizens have to understand the value of human life and should abide by the traffic norms.

Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vishwas Pandhare visited the mid-day’s office, and shared his opinions on the overall traffic situation and how the department plans to control traffic problems. Pandhare said, “We can better the traffic situation only if the citizens start following traffic discipline religiously. It is essential to spread awareness on adhering to traffic rules, especially among school and college students, and people from the corporate sector.”

“Only 20 per cent of two-wheeler riders wear helmets. Beside this, a majority of the accidents takes place due to motorists breaking the traffic rules. It is essential that we spread the message among citizens for their own safety,” Pandhare added.
He blamed lack of planning by the municipal corporations which endangered the lives of pedestrians. Lack of zebra crossings and traffic signals at major junctions force pedestrians to cross the roads wherever they can find space.

Pandhare mentioned that the department has repeatedly written to the municipal corporations to add new zebra crossings and repaint the ones that have faded, along with requests to install traffic signals at important junctions, but it seems like these plans have been kept on hold.