Road etiquette need of the hour

KOCHI: As traffic regulations will be implemented once the North overbridge is demolished, the number of traffic petty cases is likely to grow. From the data available with the Traffic Police Commissioner Office 55,122 cases were registered in west and east traffic police divisions of the city  this year.The traffic etiquette of Kochiites is certainly not up to the mark.Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic (East) Baby Vinod said that drivers and pedestrians should take traffic rules more seriously. People hardly care about them and act according to their whims and fancies.He also admitted that the number of traffic offences around the North overbridge would  increase once the new routes come into force. “We will depute additional police personnel in the area. Sign boards will be in place to guide people about the new routes. In case the  new routes cause problems, the traffic department would consult the Corporation and road safety authority to find a solution,” he said.The number of accidents and traffic blocks can be minimised if the road users take traffic rules more seriously, he said.A total of 6,679 vehicles were fined this year for violating parking rules and obstructive parking. For creating traffic obstruction 10,123 vehicles were fined, 320 cases were booked for competitive driving and 282 were taken into custody for rash and negligent riding under Sec 184 of Traffic Rules. 4,269 people were booked for left side overtaking. 280 people were caught for turning to the right and left without indicators and not giving hand signals.The cops in the city have caught 5,548 riders without helmets or using helmets without chin strap. 2,439 people  were fined for cutting red lights and disobeying police signals. 127 people were caught using mobile phones while driving. The most number of people were fined for violating lane discipline. From the traffic police records, 10,375 people have been booked for violating lane discipline. Meanwhile, the revenue earned by the government  from the fines charged on offenders is a point to be noted. Kochiites have paid Rs 63,87,800 as fine for traffic offences. In May, the revenue recovered from the fine for petty offences was around Rs 1,40,89,200 and Rs 74,700 was collected during election period when traffic officials were deputed on for poll duty.