Traffic jockeys get more gear

Traffic jockeys get more gear
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Let’s call them traffic jockeys. They talk and guide motorists on what they ought to and ought not to do. And they are all over the city, with the police department buying more public address systems.

Policemen with megaphones will remind motorists and pedestrians about their duties.

The first public address systems were installed at traffic junctions in 2002. Mysore Bank Circle, Police Timmaiah Circle, Anil Kumble Circle, Arts and Craft Centre, Trinity Junction and Charmrajpet Road were among the first few to get public address systems. Now, the police department has purchased 30 new public address systems, which will add to the current 25.

M A Saleem, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Traffic Division, told this website’s newspaper that the new systems will be rotated among circles where such systems are not permanently fixed.

“We carry out presentations at busy traffic junctions from October till May. Policemen who address the junctions are not specially trained as they speak on simple things, which motorists intend to forget. The yellow line crossing, moving before the light turns green, and talking on the cellphone are simple but important offences the cops remind people against,” he said.

The PA system helps maintain control over traffic at busy junctions. Many riders try to move before the light turns green, causing nuisance to pedestrians who cross the roads.

The bigger the junction, the greater the problems for the road crossing crowd. The address system warns hurrying motorists. “We will also use the systems to play cassettes on road safety,” he added.