12,848 booked for traffic rule violations in six days

Kathmandu, April 2

It seems many drivers take traffic rules for granted, and frequent awareness campaigns and crackdown on rule violators hardly deter risky driving.

Traffic police booked as many as 12,848 motorists for breach of rule in the six days (March 27-April 1) in the Kathmandu Valley alone.

The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division and its all 34 units in the Valley has been deploying traffic cops, both in uniform and civvies, to manage the traffic and catch rule violators. Plainclothes cops has been found to be effective in catching the offenders.

During the period, they also recorded common forms of violation of rules such as rampant parking, breaking traffic signals, use of mobile phone while driving, seat belt infraction, mechanical modification of original shape of bikes, overloading, overtaking from the left side of the road, violation of one-way traffic rule, zig-zagging, bikes carrying more than one pillion rider and reckless driving, among others.

According to figures maintained by the MTPD, it took action against 2,193 yesterday, 2,381 drivers on March 31, 2,228 on March 30, 1,861 on March 29, 2,127 on March 28 and 2,158 on March 27.

Traffic cops armed with communication sets, GoPro cameras and breathalyers have fanned out across the Valley with major focus on busy intersections at Koteshwor, Babar Mahal, Maitighar, Keshar Mahal, Singha Durbar, Baneshwor, Durbar Marg, Thapathali, Tripureshwor, Putalisadak, Sundhara, Ratna Park and Bag Bazaar. Similarly, more than 200 CCTV are closely monitoring the vehicular movement.

Persons driving under the influence and lane discipline violators are required to pay fine and participate in an hour-long lecture about traffic safety to get their licence back. An MTPD official said it will be rare to find motorists, especially the bikers, who have not been punished by the law enforcement agency for violating traffic rules the Valley. In spite of the punishment, most motorists continue to violate safety rules.

“Wilful violation of rules is one of the reasons why the capital city has suffered from traffic congestion and is vulnerable to road accidents,” he reasoned. What’s strange is that most of the offenders are well-experienced and well-educated drivers.