Discussion on everyday lawlessness on Indian roads
By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 13 Dec: A very contemporary discussion was held on the theme of lawlessness on Indian roads and the manner in which people openly violate traffic rules and civic sense. The panel comprised IG Police Neelesh Bharne, SP Traffic Dehradun Lokjeet Singh, Additional SP Dehradun Rural Jaya Baluni, journalist Rahul Kotiyal of Baramasa, while the session was moderated by CA and entrepreneur Supriya Chandhok.
Opening the discussion, Supriya Chandhok reminded the audience of two recent accidents in Dehradun in which several people were killed due to rash driving, and raised the question of how and why such serious accidents continue to occur and what can be done to curb them.
IG Neelesh Bharne observed that Dehradun is a rapidly growing city with an ever-increasing population and traffic load. He felt that, for Dehradun, the Commissionerate system of policing should perhaps be considered seriously, as it would enhance the budget and deployment of the police force. He said the rapidly expanding city and its population were posing major challenges before enforcement authorities. He admitted that traffic jams and road accidents are major areas of concern for the police in Dehradun. For a lasting resolution, he said, the three Es—Enforcement, Engineering and Education—must come into play, and the government and police administration are actively deliberating on this. While crossings are being widened and traffic lights installed, narrow roads, congested junctions and the ever-growing number of vehicles continue to pose challenges.
Lokjeet Singh said the two major accidents in Dehradun were widely publicised and compelled both the administration and enforcement agencies to seriously mull over corrective measures. He added that, given the circumstances, solutions must come as much from society as from stricter enforcement by the police. On its part, the police have strengthened enforcement, with a significant rise in challans and penalties for underage driving, drunken driving and overspeeding. Despite this, people can still be seen riding two-wheelers without helmets and driving cars without wearing seatbelts.
Jaya Baluni said good schooling and responsible parenting are also essential to instil disciplined driving habits and respect for the law among the youth. While enforcement has been strengthened, she said all stakeholders must come together. She also pointed out that after the two recent accidents, parents have become more cautious about allowing their children to drive vehicles or gifting cars on birthdays, and now hesitate to do so.
Journalist Rahul Kotiyal blamed the lack of adequate enforcement for the continued occurrence of accidents and insisted that the government should focus more on improving public transport in Dehradun rather than prioritising flyovers and elevated road corridors. He also stressed the need for fixing greater accountability in cases of road accidents.
Moderator Supriya Chandhok pointed out that while the two road accidents in Dehradun made national and even international headlines, a recent bus accident in Almora district, in which a bus plunged into a deep gorge killing 26 passengers, failed to attract similar attention.
Bharne reminded the audience that the government is conscious of the problem of hit-and-run cases and that the Centre has made hit and run a serious offence under the new BNS laws, punishable with up to 10 years’ imprisonment. He also praised former DGP Ashok Kumar for encouraging people not to flee accident sites and instead assist the injured, noting that such Good Samaritans were not punished but encouraged through service-oriented duties such as helping with traffic management if they aided victims rather than escaping the scene.
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