ALAN D’CRUZ
Maintaining traffic discipline is not the duty only of the police, but even of citizens. The Police are there to ensure public safety and to ensure that citizens reach their homes and work places safely, and not merely to fine them. In spite of this, they are the focus of ridicule and neglect, but a few citizens appreciate their commitment and hard work.
The Vasco and Dabolim Traffic Police tirelessly sweat it out to manage the increasing traffic and to regulate traffic in the town and highways. Though the people have been periodically alerted and educated through the various police safety week programmes, the locals and commuters in the area still fail to follow the rules.
While speaking to Herald on the condition of anonymity, one of the traffic police on duty stated, “It’s not possible to stand for six hours in the hot sun and catch law violators. We have to apply oil the next day to keep us moving on the job and we can’t complain about this problem to anyone.”
“People have to be mature enough, think about the worth of another’s life and must be civilized on the road. If they follow the rules properly, then there won’t be any mishaps and we wouldn’t have to book anyone,” added the traffic police.
When asked about which genre of people has been created nuisance, the policemen instantly replied that “youth have been the main culprits on the road, indulging in rash and negligent driving, disobeying traffic rules by over speeding, by not wearing helmets on the highway, etc.”
Many people wear helmets only when they see us from a distance, as if they are wearing helmets only because of us and not for their own safety, added a senior police official.
“The police are doing a tremendous job, and it’s not easy task to stand out in the hot sun and guide the traffic in the town during peak hours,” added Rayan Fondekar.
Fondekar further heaped praises and stated that they deserve special thanks for efficiently managing the traffic on the highways and in the town.
“Firstly I would like to thank the police for their efforts as one can always find many young men in uniform at different junctions of the town and highway trying to help us reach home faster than we could assume, but there are many people out there who use abusive language against them accusing them of accepting bribes and calling them thieves, which is absolutely wrong,” Baina resident Tyson D’Costa, stated.
He further justified his statement saying, “If motorists and scooterists carry all their documents and follow proper traffic rules , the police won’t fine them. We should all respect the traffic police for their splendid role instead we just pay no heed to their commands and just cruise past them.”
The police official urged the people to wear the head gear on all roads commencing this month so as to avoid the fine and said, “We don’t like to issue challans to the locals and this can be solved if they follow the rules”.
When contacted Dabolim Traffic Cell PI Navlesh Dessai said, “The Bombay Police Act 1961 states that all policemen are always on duty and the policemen are bound to do their duty.”
“Policemen are stationed at various places to monitor and ensure smooth functioning of traffic and to book any traffic offenders. If people cooperate with us in following traffic rules, there won’t be room for complaints from people,” Dessai added.
Dessai further urged the commuters to cooperate by following all traffic norms that will help both the policemen and motorists.
