Stringent traffic rules in place: Understanding zebra crossing
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 21 2019 -

Now breath analysers to detect drunk driving.

Obvious that the BJP led Government at Imphal is keen to follow the instructions of big brother Delhi and this is indeed a welcome step.

It is to rein in errant drivers and crack down on those who refuse to keep to the rule books that the Centre recently enforced the new traffic regulations and came out with stringent norms topped up by heavy penalties to be imposed on the violators.

Obvious that the new stringent rules and regulations have gone some way in addressing the errant drivers and to a certain extent one can see a good number of those behind the wheels respecting the zebra crossings put up at different traffic points in Imphal.

So instead of crossing over the zebra crossings and blocking half the road, thereby slowing down the vehicles coming from the opposite end, one can at least see some drivers stopping well ahead of the zebra crossing now.

This however does not mean that everything is fine.

Even today, despite the strict rules and regulations that have been enforced, one still sees some drivers trying to squeeze through the red light at the last moment.

This should explain why the Government has thought it fit to still deploy traffic police personnel at every traffic point to regulate the flow of vehicles.

Everytime the Red Signal comes on, the traffic cop on duty is constrained to put his hand to signal the vehicles to stop.

In a way this means that instead of letting the traffic lights do the job, the need to deploy traffic personnel at each traffic point is still felt and this should say something about the mentality of the people at large.

Underaged driving or letting minors drive.

To a certain extent this must have been checked, for the Government minced no words in letting it be known that it is parents and elders of the family who will face prison terms if their children and wards are found driving.

Such a move reflects the mentality of the people, who do not hesitate to let their minor children take to the wheels and in the process endanger others on the road.

It is also the same with drunken driving.

However as many have suggested and as some States have shown, efforts need to be taken up to educate the people that the stringent traffic rules and regulations are for the safety of the people and not for the convenience of anyone.

If seen along this line, the Government then will need to go beyond the heavy fines imposed and instead take up some people friendly approach.

Instead of imposing heavy fines on the violators, why not let them buy helmets on the spot ?

Why not make the process of obtaining driving license more easy instead of making people stand for hours in long queues.

Simplify the process of obtaining a fresh driving license or renew the same which has expired ?

Tough laws should not mean going against the interest of the people.

A people friendly approach is the best recipe for any law to be effective and the new stringent traffic rules and regulations also need to be people friendly and only then will all come to the realisation that what has been enforced is for the good of the people and not to penalise anyone whimsically.