The Gurugram traffic police and Road Safety Organisation (RSO) celebrated Raksha Bandhan festival by tying rakhi to the traffic violators. This novel method was adopted by the city traffic police to spread awareness among traffic violators about importance of following traffic rules. Women constables tied rakhis to the male traffic violators while male police personnel tied rakhis to women violators and requested them to follow traffic rules.
The special drive was kicked-off by Commissioner of Gurugram Police Sandeep Khirwar from Mahavir Chowk in old Gurugram and was carried out at 10 locations in the city including Jharsa Chowk, Huda City Centre, Atul Kataria Chowk, Kherki Daula Toll, Pataudi Chowk, Basai Chowk, Sector4/7 Cut and Vatika Chowk on Sohna road.
At the beginning of this awareness drive, two nukkad nataks (street plays) were also presented. During the drive, around 1,000 violators took the pledge to drive safely and rakhis as a knot of protection were tied on their wrists.
"On this auspicious day we educated people to follow the traffic signals and wear helmets while driving two wheeler. We also requested the parents to not allow their minor children to drive," said Inspector Kanta Devi.
"We need to spread the message of women's safety as well as make people aware of traffic rules. With the help of street plays we educate people on traffic rules and avoid using a mobile phone while driving, wearing a seat belt, giving way to an ambulance, and avoiding drunken driving," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Traffic, Simardeep Singh said.
Also, police circulated pamphlets with traffic rules directions and also put stickers on the violators' vehicles. "The drive was appreciated by the people. A couple of violators felt that they had committed a mistake and also took the pledge that they will not disobey traffic rules," a Road Safety Officer said.