Cops use siren as horn

Hyderabad: While rules permit only ambulances and fire fighters involved in salvage operations to use sirens, several police vehicles, especially traffic police jeeps, abuse the siren in traffic instead of using horns.

The situation has not changed despite the recent Supreme Court ruling banning the use of beacons and sirens by those not holding Constitutional posts.

Traffic police jeeps, obviously never in a salvage operation, are regularly seen employing the siren instead of the horn when in traffic, much to the annoyance of regular motorists.

The Supreme Court had earlier stated that the misuse of red beacons and sirens was a menace.

However, jeeps belonging to the Hyderabad Traffic Police, transporting inspectors and constables in the city, regularly use sirens in the midst of traffic, forcing other vehicles to give way.

Police, firefighters and ambulances can use sirens only during emergencies or salvage operations.

“It is almost like harassment. Fire vehicles and ambulances using sirens is justified. But why does the traffic police need to use sirens?” questioned  Swati Saraswatula, a techie.

Normal police vehicles too, with only a few constables inside, abuse the siren.

A senior Cyberabad police official said, “Definitely, it is abused even by the police. We are holding special drives against the abuse of sirens.”

Apart from violation of norms, siren abuse also results in noise pollution.

Last year, the National Green Tribunal came down heavily on the Mumbai police for the use of sirens.

The Tribunal also pointed out that the police was not above the law. Mumbai police had said that they had sirens installed in 4,000 odd vehicles.

The number could be similar for Hyderabad too.