It is no secret that apathy of road users towards traffic regulations exacerbates traffic congestion and other problems being experienced increasingly on the roads of Dehradun. Challans ranging from Rs100 to Rs500 and more have apparently not proved effective deterrents against traffic violations.
However, the Dehradun police are expecting an improvement in the public's traffic sense and awareness on regulations since they started making the court-summoned traffic violators mandatorily watch a 40-minute long informational film on traffic regulations. Thousands of traffic violators in Dehradun are said to have watched this movie in the past couple of months since its introduction in the challan process.
It should be noted here that like most police officers assuming charge as the senior superintendent of police in Dehradun, the current SSP Sadanand Date has also taken some measures to resolve problems in traffic regulation. However, the frequency of traffic jams is rising along with the number of vehicles on city roads.
While town planners and public representatives continue to stress on the necessity for widening roads to accommodate increasing traffic volume, many including some police officers too acknowledge that observance of traffic regulations and civic sense by road users can considerably improve the state of traffic in Dehradun. Observers point out that it has been experienced in cities across the world that simply widening the roads causes an increase in traffic volume instead of resolving traffic congestion.
In Dehradun and elsewhere in Uttarakhand, ignorance of traffic regulations and lack of responsible use of vehicles is exacerbating the incidence of traffic congestion, road accidents and fatalities.
However, the Dehradun police is claiming that there has been a marked improvement in the level of awareness and sense of responsibility among some vehicle users in the State capital in recent months.
Dehradun’s superintendent of police (Traffic) Pradeep Rai told The Pioneer, “About three months ago during the tenure of the previous Dehradun SSP, we had introduced mandatory viewing of a 40-minute educational film based on traffic regulations, road safety and other related aspects for traffic violators summoned through the court. The film which informs the viewer about rules, precautions and other aspects to be observed in traffic has made an impressive impact on the traffic violators, many of whom said that they would also make their family members watch it. I estimate that about 3,000 traffic violators have watched this film so far. After Gurgaon police, we are the ones to introduce the mandatory viewing of an informational film for traffic violators. I think this measure has had some positive effect. Apart from this we also focus on raising public awareness on traffic regulations and related aspects. I often go to schools and colleges to talk to the students on these issues,” said Rai.
Observers appreciate the measure taken by the police to make vehicle users aware of regulations.
However, they also point out that considering the alarming pace at which traffic regulation is deteriorating in the State capital, it remains to be seen whether making traffic violators watch an informational film is enough to stall deterioration of traffic regulation and improve it.