The streets in Patna would be much safer now with the anti-rash driving cell cracking the whip on reckless drivers from its very first day.
The cell started work on Saturday. On the very first day, it booked five persons for violating traffic rules and imposed fines on them under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
Besides fines, the police are also mulling other tricks to rein in traffic violators.
Repeat offenders could earn widespread notoriety as their names would be published in newspapers and displayed at various public places. Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaj said six teams have been pressed into service to check violation of traffic rules. Each team has two constables and an officer, equipped with wireless sets.
“If need be, we shall increase the number of teams later,” Maharaj said.
The SSP said the teams have been deployed across the city to ensure that traffic violators do not escape.
“If a person driving rashly manages to cross one signal, he would surely be caught at the next one,” the top cop said.
He further said: “Repeat offenders would be provided counselling to begin with. But if they don’t mend their ways, they would get harsher punishment.”
Publishing names in newspapers to shame offenders is a strategy also adopted recently by the Women’s Helpline to corner eve-teasers.
Of late, there has been a spurt in the number of biker gangs in the city.
Referred to as “Laheria Bikers” they are responsible for frequent accidents. Bailey Road and Airport Road are two of their favourite haunts. On an average, the traffic SP’s office gets five complaints about truant bikers.
“Most of them are youths from affluent families,” said a police officer.