Taking strong cognizance of violators of traffic signal lights installed at number of places in twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu, Inspector General of Police Traffic, Viplav Kumar, on Saturday exhorted upon the department to make sure that these rules are strictly adhered to by the people.
“It is quite unfortunate that some people jump the red lights at the crossings which not only causes inconvenience to law abiding road users but sometime results even in fatal accidents”, the IGP maintained.
Viplav Kumar, while addressing the officers meeting held at Traffic Headquarters, asked the traffic police to further intensify the drive against those who violate the traffic rules and does not obey the traffic lights just because of their impatient attitude. He said that in order to ensure proper discipline with regard to Traffic Signal Lights for smooth movement of traffic the people too have to cooperate and understand that they also have a responsibility in this regard.
For this purpose, special cameras have been installed at prominent intersections/ crossings in both the capital cities for recording of evidence of Red Light jumping. If the jumping of Traffic Light is done by the violator in such a manner that it amounts to dangerous driving then the violators would be challaned both for the offence of dangerous driving in addition to the red light jumping.
Mr. Kumar further said that the Committee of Supreme Court on Road Safety has observed that any action cannot be effective as long as driving licence will remain with the violator, adding that Supreme Court has, therefore, recently issued directions that the driving licence of those indulging in Red Light jumping be seized and suspended for a period not less than three months under Section 19 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 read with Rule 21 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
During the drive against Red Light jumping, therefore, the Traffic Police shall also take into possession the driving licence of the violator and forward it to the Transport Department for suspending the licence for a period not less than three months.
