A volunteer offers roses to a motorist at Kargil Chowk in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Jai Prakash

A red rose in place of a challan (receipt) and a leaflet of road safety norms instead of warning greeted traffic rule violators on Tuesday at all major roundabouts in the city.

Usually, traffic cops issue challans to realise penalty from traffic rule violators and warn them. But Tuesday was pleasantly different. Patna police, in association with a private telecom company, decided to try out “Gandhigiri” on the city streets to discipline road rule violators.

Vijay Kumar, an advocate, was driving down the Kargil Chowk area on Tuesday morning when some youths stopped his car with the help of traffic police personnel.

Kumar was surprised when one of the youths smiled and handed him a rose and then a leaflet. When told that the flower was to reward him for not wearing the seat belt, an embarrassed Kumar admitted his mistake.

“Yes, it is my fault and it won’t be repeated again,” Kumar said putting on the seat belt.

As part of a four-day-long traffic safety awareness programme launched on Tuesday, policemen stationed at major roundabouts of the state capital greeted traffic norm violators with a smile, while representatives of the telecom company gave them roses.

Sultan, a helmet-less biker crossing Kargil Chowk, was waved down and given a rose. “It is quite unexpected. I forgot to wear my helmet. Some policemen stopped me at Dakbungalow roundabout. I thought I had it. Just then some people came, smiled and gave me a rose and a leaflet listing seven dos and don’ts. It is an eye-opener and I shall always wear a helmet,” he told The Telegraph.

The traffic safety drive started with a group of around 25 bikers going around the town with banners and posters bearing slogans on traffic safety. The bike rally teed off from the Patna police headquarters near Gandhi Maidan.

The focus of the drive is on basic traffic norm violations, including non-use of seatbelts, overspeeding, driving without helmets, using cellphones while driving and driving in an inebriated state. Such awareness drives are organised in the state capital frequently. In February this year, then traffic superintendent of police (SP)-cum Patna City SP Kim planned and executed a weeklong awareness drive, comprising street plays and distribution of leaflets.

Laying stress on public awareness, Patna traffic SP Chandrika Prasad said: “It is not that violators won’t be penalised in these four days. The drive is on at major roundabouts. The cops are on duty at other places as well, where violators would be fined. Change will only come through public awareness. A majority of people on two-wheelers wear helmets now. The police will ensure that they learn and obey the rules.”

When contacted, a senior traffic police officer, preferring anonymity, said: “A majority of drivers don’t care if they are penalised more than once. We don’t think giving roses to traffic rule violators would be of any use. One cannot do anything if mistakes are committed deliberately.”