Drive for better motoring

Drive for better motoring
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Wonders cannot happen overnight. But, the week-long zero tolerance junction management programme, a joint initiative of The Times of India and Bangalore Traffic Police, served as a reminder for lakhs of motorists and boosted the morale of the traffic police.
“I have always followed traffic rules, but the pledge form which I signed will remind me to maintain the same record on the road,’’ said Raghunandan R, a motorist who felt that Unlock Bangalore will make violators think twice before violating traffic rules.
Interactions with volunteers, new suggestions and motorists approaching the volunteers for the pledge forms were the highlights of this Unlock Bangalore campaign at six junctions.
Jayadev Kulkarni, who was at a petrol bunk on Residency Road to drop the pledge form, suggested that motorists be allowed to pen down tips on effective traffic management. “There is a lot of talent in Bangalore and we need to network such talent,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, drop boxes at petrol bunks are receiving scores of pledge forms and
messages. “Many motorists turned into our bunks looking for the drop box. It was nice to see motorists coming forward for a good cause,’’ said a petrol bunk staff.
Police officers, manning traffic at the selected six junctions where the volunteer-driven campaign was being held, noticed a change in the motorists’ behaviour, at least when they were waiting for the green signal. “When motorists see students and well-educated citizens getting on to the road to spread awareness, violators think before jumping a red light,’’ DCP East Seemanthkumar Singh said.
Volunteers were surprised to see TOI readers visiting the selected junctions in their enthusiasm to be part of awareness programme. “We allowed them to hold the placards. In fact, many wanted to replicate the awareness programme in their neighbourhoods too,’’ said Girish, a volunteer.
The pledge forms were made available at all six selected junctions — Kamaraj Road, K R Circle, Hudson Circle, Police Thimmaiah Circle, South End Circle and D’Souza Circle.