Crackdown on heavy vehicles in Gurgaon

It took four precious lives to shake the Gurgaon traffic police out of its slumber and intensify its checking drive against heavy vehicles. Leena Dhankhar reports.

It took four precious lives to shake the Gurgaon traffic police out of its slumber and intensify its checking drive against heavy vehicles.

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On Wednesday, the police fined 110 vehicles for not having retroreflectors. Different teams were also deputed on the Sohna Road and Faridabad-Gurgaon Road to keep a tab on overloaded vehicles.

Four city residents died this week in different accidents involving heavy vehicles. The traffic police are now in no mood to take any risks. It is mandatory for heavy vehicles such as trucks, tractors and buses to fix retro reflective tapes so that they are visible from a distance and accidents are prevented.

Most drivers, however, seem to be unaware of any such rule or are simply flouting norms.

DCP (traffic) Bharti Arora said, "The use of reflective tapes, which is visible from a kilometre away, would help reduce accidents, especially at night and during fog. Though we had launched the drive some time ago, automobile companies and motor vehicle inspectors do not do their job well. How can a vehicle be allowed to ply on the road without a reflector and why is only the traffic police blamed?"

Neighbours of accident victim Chinmay Sharma, who was a resident of Sushant Lok-2, are unhappy about the action being taken after the mishap.

Ajay Pandit, a manager with Ansal, said, "It is very sad that we lost our friend due to the negligence of the police. If strict action against heavy vehicles had been taken earlier, Chinmay would have been with us today."

"This is a good initiative by the police provided it is followed up strictly. Reflectors certainly help detect heavy vehicles at night and save people from fatal accidents," Poonam Chaudhary, another resident, added.