Onus of following traffic rules is on those who drive

This picture has been used for representational purposes

In a special drive conducted recently, the Thane traffic police booked more than 5,100 vehicle drivers. A majority were bikers who were riding without a helmet. A number of auto and taxi drivers were penalised for driving without a uniform and several drivers for driving without a valid licence. The police are set to continue such surprise drives.

A report stated that the action went on for 12 hours and the traffic police were instructed to fine all violations. They said this was just the beginning and henceforth, action will be much more focused.

It is time for us to monitor ourselves when it comes to road discipline. The helmet rule has been on since years, but we see bikers who simply do not wear a helmet. Riding on the wrong side of the road is also very common among bikers.

While these surprise traffic regulation drives will certainly help in instilling discipline as vehicle owners are going to fear action, it is a sad commentary that we need regular drives for something as basic as obeying traffic rules.

If we have a two-way street (pun intended) where most people become aware of traffic discipline, hazards of breaking the law and the biting truth that obeying laws are for the safety of oneself and the traffic police keep people on their toes with these drives, then, we have a win-win situation on our hand.

Look at traffic cops not as adversaries but allies, doing their job to keep you safe, not simply to collect fines and report these ‘numbers'. If we have a shift in attitude, we can dial back incidents, even ones like road rage and avoidable accidents, and go notches up on the safety ladder. Let us make this a team effort, cops and citizens working together for a common aim. It is a cocktail the city's streets can say cheers to.