Motorists block a zebra crossing at Dakbungalow roundabout in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

“Gandhigiri” rules even six years after ‘Munnabhai’ Sanjay Dutt gave roses to Lucky Singh, a role essayed by Boman Irani in the 2006 Bollywood film, Lage Raho Munnabhai, to show him the correct path.

Starting Tuesday, residents violating traffic rules by riding motorcycles without helmets, not using seat belts while driving cars, honking unnecessarily and speeding will not be fined for four days. Instead, they would be given a rose first and then handed a leaflet that would have the mention of all dos and don’ts to be safe on the roads of the state capital.

The four-day traffic safety programme, a joint initiative of the Patna traffic police and a private telecom company, will be kicked off in Patna, which will feature several traffic safety awareness programmes.

“A lot of things have been planned out. The programmes will take place at all major roundabouts of the city, including Dakbungalow, Income Tax, Station Road, Ashiana Mor, Doctor’s Colony Kankerbagh, P&M Mall, Boring Road and Hartali Mor among others. The banners and posters carrying traffic safety messages will be put up at these points. For these four days, traffic safety audio messages and jingles will be played round-the-clock to spread public awareness. Traffic norm violators will not be fined, but will be given roses and leaflets mentioning traffic safety norms and rules,” the representative told The Telegraph.

“The message of the programme is ‘Life is Precious’. If a person driving or walking on the road takes precautions and protects himself or herself, others will also be safe. Overtaking and spe- eding not only trigger traffic snarls but also cause most of the accidents in Patna. The banners and hoardings will talk about the dangers due to the same. The process of setting up banners will begin this evening and by tomorrow all will be set,” Patna traffic superintendent of police Chandrika Prasad said.

On Tuesday morning, 25 bikers will set out from the Patna police headquarters at Gandhi Maidan with placards on traffic safety. “They will go across the capital till 2pm, distributing leaflets and displaying the banners. Every evening, some video clippings on traffic awareness and safety will be shown to the public at the roundabouts. We hope them to act as an eye opener for them. People will be told and explained about the danger of traffic violation. We hope these four days to create a difference,” the officer said.