PANJIM: Amid Christmas mood, motorists were surprised to see many Santa Clauses handing out road safety tips to traffic violators on the busy streets of Panjim on Tuesday. These Santa Clauses were none other than the traffic personnel, who were distributing chocolates to the violators along with awareness message on following traffic rules.
The brain behind this initiative, Police Inspector (Panjim Traffic Cell) Brendon D’Souza said that a team of 11 traffic policemen were on rotation deployed across six places in the capital to create awareness on traffic safety.
The squad found as many as 100-120 motorists violating the traffic rules but they were fortunate that on the eve of Christmas, they were let off without any challan.
“The campaign was not just about distributing chocolates to the violators. We used this occasion to spread awareness on the importance of traffic safety. The violators were stopped and not challaned but advised to ensure they follow safety rules hereafter,” the PI told Herald.
He said that majority of the two-wheeler riders including tourists were found to be wearing helmet but without mandatory ISI mark while some of them had not strapped their helmet. There were also many couples found carrying more than two children on their bike and in several cases, the four-wheeler driver had not put on his seat belt. Car drivers, resting right hand on the car window and driving with left hand only, were also stopped and informed that driving with one hand is not safe.
The personnel were also seen with placards with message on traffic rules. The locations covered by the personnel included Kala Academy, KTC Bus Stand, Santa Monica junction, St Inez near Taj Vivanta, Panjim police station road stretch and Panjim market.
