Another traffic drive, more challans. Just not enough, say experts

In yet another drive, the Delhi Traffic Police on Wednesday prosecuted more than 600 people across the city for various traffic violations like obstructive parking, jaywalking and jumping red light.

While the police continue to crack down on traffic violators, traffic experts are questioning the efficacy of such drives to discipline Delhi’s road users.

Experts point to several lacunae, including effective and consistent enforcement to check such gross traffic violations across the capital.

"People obey rules only if they fear the law. Such drives are like sample checking… not at all effective for the volume. There has to be consistency in enforcement," says Prof PK Sarkar, Head of the Department of Transport Planning at School of Planning and Architecture.

Says Rohit Baluja, president of Indian Road Traffic Education: "Enforcement is like fire, it will continue only till the time you put in fuel. Consistency is the key."

Another aspect is, are there proper alternatives available for road users? For instance, says Baluja, no pedestrian will want to be unsafe. "So, if there are proper road crossings, subways etc, why would he dare jaywalking?"

Traffic officials, as usual, point fingers at manpower crunch. "But that can be taken care of by involvement of NGOs and/or volunteers on a contract basis. Public Private Partnership is the current mantra, why don't the traffic cops apply this?" asks Prof Sarkar.

Crackdown continues: In Connaught Place, as many as 119 persons were prosecuted for jaywalking. Similarly, 169 people were challaned for parking their vehicles in a manner obstructive to the flow of traffic, officials said. South Delhi areas of Munirka and Green Park saw 211 prosecutions for improper parking.

The traffic cops, with the help of local cops, also removed 12 encroachments obstructing traffic.

In Paharganj, 57 faced the brunt for improper parking while 32 others were prosecuted for jumping red light and 28 were fined for various other offences.