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Reckless drivers, beware! Cops can impound your license

  • From January, licenses can be impounded on the spot in case of violations.
  • Nearly 2.6 lakh cases of reckless driving were registered in 2016.
  • 735 people have died in road accidents in Bengaluru this year.
Bengaluru traffic police reckless driving

Facing extensive criticism for inefficiency, the Bengaluru Traffic Police appears set to crack down on rash driving from January 2017, with plans to impound licenses of errant drivers on the spot and dispatch the documents for suspension procedures.

 

 

Sources in the Traffic Police admit that rules had been relaxed in the past and violators just had to pay fines under the Motor Vehicles Act. In a recent report, Newsable found that nearly 8.2 crore people had violated traffic rules in the city in 2016. Under the new rules, the licenses would be impounded on the spot and sent to the RTOs concerned to initiate suspension procedures.

 

 

“Approximately 1.42 lakh cases of reckless driving were registered this year and 1.2 lakh cases of overspeeding were also registered. This has become a headache for the Traffic Police as the speeding vehicle may knock down or injure our staff," said a senior police official. The official also added that 735 people have been killed in road accidents in Bengaluru so far in 2016 and nearly 50% of these fatalities were caused by negligent driving.

 

 

Hospitals across the city have welcomed the proposed move to impound licenses, noting that only strong deterrence will reduce accidents and fatalities.

 

 

Dr Ajit R, who is a director at HOSMAT Hospital, has operated on victims of reckless driving. "The freewheeling and reckless driving culture of overspeeding by motorists is not only putting them in danger but the public is also getting affected. Many innocent people lose their lives or become handicapped because of the mistakes of such arrogant motorists. These people should be banned for life from driving," Dr Ajit declared.

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