Killer roads: Police, BMTC get into top gear

Killer roads: Police, BMTC get into top gear
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: After several fatal road mishaps involving BMTC buses, the City traffic police and BMTC have come together to evolve measures to check the problem.

As an instant remedy, the police will launch a drive against footboard commuters from Saturday while the Traffic Training Institute, for the first time, has organised a one-day course for about 300 BMTC drivers on Friday.

The situation on the city roads is indeed alarming and BMTC buses cause more deaths than private buses, though the authorities have managed to bring down the number.

Considering the need of the hour, BMTC and the city police have put their heads together to chalk out plans to bring in safe public transport. Compliance of traffic rules by drivers and driving psychology will be the focus of the course.

DCP Traffic (East) M A Saleem told this paper that experts will deliberate on various subjects at the programme. “Most BMTC drivers park their buses either in the centre of the road or they shoot past the bus stops. This sort of recklessness is the cause for most fatal accidents,” he said.

Another problem that the police could not do anything about is the footboard travellers. Officers said that as this occurs mostly during peak hours, they are reduced to mute spectators, as they cannot create a traffic jam by stopping a bus to book the offenders.

But, after the death of 16-year-old Tabrez in Nagavara on Wednesday, the traffic police have decided to launch a drive against commuters dangling from footboards. Tabrez was trying to get into a crowded bus, but fell off and was crushed under rear wheels.