Hyderabad: Don't eat the zebra, or you will be shot' and displayed
Traffic police has launched a campaign against motorists who do not recognise zebra crossings at crossroads.
Hyderabad: The next time you stop your vehicle on or after a zebra crossing, instead of before it, your video will be taken by the Hyderabad Traffic Police and uploaded on social media along with an awareness message. Other motorists and pedestrians can contribute too.
The traffic police seems to have realised that social media can be used to bring erring motorists in line. Traffic police has launched a campaign against motorists who do not recognise zebra crossings at crossroads.
Thirty cops have been deployed at different parts of the city to monitor motorists, and six have been assigned the task of sharing videos of traffic violators on social-networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.
This effort to improve pedestrian safety is part of the traffic police Safe Driving Habits campaign, to generate awareness about traffic rules. The police has created a Twitter hashtag #Zebra-CrossingIsMeantFor
Pedestrains, and requesting to share their videos of violators.
A motorist, Mr Ashish Argade, said, “Educating people about traffic rules while taking immediate punitive action is the only way to inculcate discipline. If Hyderabad as-pires to be a global city, we need to live up to the global standards for rads and traffic as well.”
Mr Sanjeev Peethala, a commuter, wanted the traffic police to also cover motorists who block free left turns, which affects other road users. “This is done by police cars as well, among other vehicles,” he says.
Hyderabad traffic DCP A.V. Ranganath said, “Apart from imposing challans and penalty points, we are trying our best to educate the public, most of whom are unaware of traffic rules and regulations. We have realised the importance of social media and the wide reach that it has. People will understand how they break traffic laws and what they should not be doing by watching the videos.”
He adds that apart from zebra crossings, the traffic police was also trying to educate commuters about laws regarding the use of helmets, driving on the wrong side of the road, and the blockage of free left turns.
“Pedestrians are suffering because of the people who block free lefts. We hope that these awareness campaigns will help bring about social change.”