Pramesh S Jain
In the wake of Mandya’s incident where a toddler was killed and a couple injured while trying to avoid random checks on May 26,leading to wide scale protest and suspension of traffic policemen,State Police Chief on Saturday issued direction to refrain from random vehicle checks without valid reasons .
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n a circular issued to all the district heads and commissionerates,Director General and Inspector General of Police,MA Saleem,also cited another reason reported on May 13 in Davanagere where a police constable was killed during vehicle check due to rash and negligent driving of a goods vehicle driver .
Keeping this two incidents in mind,Mr.Saleem said that the traffic police have failed to take preventive and precautionary measures during checks endangering the personal safety and also safety of motorists .
Reiterating his advise,Mr.Saleem directed the traffic police to check only if they come across visible violations and refrain them from confronting and trying to stop vehicles moving fast.
No zig zag barricades to be used for enforcement and pulling the rider or pillion from the bike while they are on the bike or not to take away the keys .
Referring to the contactless enforcement,Mr.Saleem directed the traffic policemen to not chase them but note down the registration numbers and inform the necessary control rooms.
Traffic policemen have been compulsory asked to wear reflective jackets during checks and use LED batons in the evenings and nights.
“Body worn cameras should be compulsorily worn during physical vehicle inspection and the special drives should be carried in the well it area,Mr.Saleem said.
In zones where traffic management centres of intelligent traffic management systems are established,he advised the policemen to use contactless enforcement through Intelligent Traffic management system .
He also directed them to hold awareness programmes for the public for the motorists and members of the General public .
Traffic policemen have been asked to not stop speeding vehicles on highways and in case of inspection drives, “use reflective rubber cones a 100-150 metres away,so the vehicles have ample time to slow down”, he said.
He also directed the law and order policemen to try and limit holding nakabandi on highways and to use the help of traffic policemen wherever I needed.
