Traffic police to hand out rulebooks to errant drivers

The next time you jump a traffic signal, or are caught speeding or driving in the wrong lane, the traffic police personnel will be waiting for you with a booklet of ‘learners guide for driving’, along with the usual traffic challan.

The next time you jump a traffic signal, or are caught speeding or driving in the wrong lane, the traffic police personnel will be waiting for you with a booklet of ‘learners guide for driving’, along with the usual traffic challan.

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Delhi Traffic Police have decided to play the role of educators to instill traffic sense in Delhiites. From now on, the traffic policemen on the road will not only man traffic and issue traffic fines but will also hand out manuals with traffic rules followed by an on-the-spot quiz.

“Our primary aim has always been to educate people. Challans and punishments are important but along with it we should also ensure that drivers know the repercussions of their actions and do not commit the same violations again. These handouts are basic traffic rules which all of us go through while applying for drivers’ licences but forget with experience,” said a senior traffic official.

The idea behind such an initiative is to give importance to education over punishment.

The officials have been directed that whenever a driver is caught violating a traffic rule while he is being challaned, officials will explain the possible dangers of flouting these rules.

A copy of the rules will be given for the driver’s reference and a quiz will be conducted to check whether the driver has taken anything from the discussion.

“A constable spends approximately two minutes with a driver to hand him the traffic ticket. During this time a few more minutes go by when the driver tries to negotiate with the policeman. In that time if they are engaged in some useful discussion we will be able to bring down violations,” the officer added.

It has been over two months since the traffic officials from various circles are being trained for interactive skills to deal with people in a more sensitive but effective manner.