The next time you ignore a zebra crossing while stopping at a red traffic light on Bailey Road, don't be stunned if a couple of "zebras" come and fall down in front of your vehicle and start crying.
You read that right; that is the unusual - and funny - idea traffic superintendent of police (SP) P.K. Das has come with to make people aware about the pedestrian crossing.
Das has decided to launch a five-day campaign starting from August 21 in which persons dressed up as zebras will be deployed at traffic signals.
The motive is to make people aware about traffic rules, especially with regard to the zebra crossing, and to streamline the chaotic traffic in the state capital.
"I have been working day and night to streamline the traffic in Patna but despite the drive, people are still violating the traffic rules," Das told The Telegraph on Wednesday. "So, now I have decided to use a hilarious way to educate people about the zebra crossing. I have roped in students of College of Arts and Craft Patna who will do the body art. It means, the complete body of the person - from head to toe - would be painted the way a zebra crossing looks.
"As per the plan, if any four-wheeler or two-wheeler will violate the zebra crossing during a red light, these people painted like zebras will fall down on the road and will start crying, telling the motorist that they have hit a zebra. My main purpose is to embarrass those people who break the zebra crossing rules," he added.
A zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing marked by alternating black and white stripes -resembling the coat of a zebra - used across the world. A zebra crossing is where pedestrians should cross the road and motorists should stop before a zebra crossing at a red light. In many cities across India, however, motorists cock a snook at the rule and happily violate the zebra crossing.
There are 11.19 lakh registered vehicles in Patna - as per data available with the district transport office - of which 4 lakh vehicles ply on the road every day, Das said. In addition, 2 lakh vehicles of other states and districts hit the roads in the state capital every day, which makes the total number of vehicles on the roads 6 lakh.
"It is humanly not possible for the traffic police to control such huge numbers and the only way to streamline the traffic is cooperation from the motorist," Das said. "The other thing is to educate them. Until the residents cooperate, traffic will continue to be chaotic. So, I have come with the zebra idea to educate people."
The campaign will be launched at five traffic junctions on Bailey Road from 9am to 12noon: Dakbungalow, Boring Road junction near Patna High Court, Hartali Mor, Punaichak and Rajbansi Nagar.
The Patna traffic police have already launched a drive since July 7 to punish motorists who jump the zebra crossing.
The cops have penalised around 1,839 vehicles and collected Rs 2,92,600 as fines. To educate drivers, the traffic police have put up signboards, banners and stickers at major roundabouts. The traffic department has painted fresh zebra crossings at many intersections.
To manage traffic, the cops have also engaged 1,200 volunteers , mainly NCC cadets, whom the traffic department calls "community police". They are the ones who will don the body-paint and carry a message: "Do not kill my lovely zebra".
Apart from having to listen to crying zebras, violators will also have to pay Rs 600 fine.
