Srinagar, Mar 5: The next time you are caught talking on mobile while driving or your car has tinted glasses be ready to pay a hefty fine!
 In a bid to minimize the risks of accidents and ensure smooth flow of traffic, the Traffic Department has decided to launch a Valley-wide drive against the use of mobiles while driving and tinted glass on cars. The Department has also introduced a Runaway Challan System under which offenders of the traffic rules will receive their challans at their homes.  
 “There has been a marked increase in use of black films, tinted glasses in cars and mobile phones while driving in the Valley. We have decided to launch a Valley-wide drive to take action against the offenders to minimize the risks of accidents and ensure smooth flow of traffic,” the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) (Traffic) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Greater Kashmir on sidelines of a function organised by the Traffic Department here.  
 The DIG said the use of tinted glasses and mobile phones while driving distracts the attention of driver. “This causes high risk of accidents. All the permissions for having tinted glasses including those of Government officials have been cancelled except some exceptional cases like VIPs or people with security risk. We have formed special squads to identity the vehicles, which use tinted glasses or black films and not only remove them but also fine the offenders. In case we found anybody driving while talking on mobiles, we may also seize the mobiles besides imposing fine on the offenders,” the DIG said.
 He said the department has invoked the Runaway Challan System which envisages dispatching of challans to homes of the offenders even if they manage to evade the traffic policemen.
 “Under this system, our cops note the number and make of the car which has tinted glasses, is parked wrongly or its driver talks on mobile while driving. We will seek the details of the car from the Regional Transport Office and our data bank and send the challans to homes of the offenders. The challan has to be paid at the banks failing which legal action will be initiated against the offenders,” the DIG said.
 The DIG said the Runaway Challan System will also help to identity the cars with fake number plates, engine and chassis numbers. “In a sense, the system will enable complete postmortem of a vehicle. It will also enable us whether the vehicle is involved in an offence,” he added.  
 He urged the motorists to shun use of tinted glasses and use of mobile phones while driving. “People should understand that we have started this drive only for their safety and smooth flow of traffic,” he said.
 However, the DIG acknowledged the lack of manpower in the department and maintained that the matter has been taken up with the Government.
 On the occasion, the Superintendent of Police (Traffic), SP traffic Srinagar Maqsood- Ul- Zaman said the department has taken many measures to ensure effective regulation of traffic in the City.
 “Besides traffic regulation, we are stressing on spreading awareness particularly among the drivers of passengers vehicles about the traffic rules. In next few months, we will make efforts to prevent parking of vehicles on busy road and encourage use of parking lots,” the SP said. 
 The SP said due to systematic planning, the Department managed to ensure smooth flow of traffic during recent political rally at TRC.  
 Earlier, the SSP Traffic (Rural), GN Wadoo, said despite inclement weather condition in past few days, the department managed to ensure movement of 3772 vehicles from Srinagar-Jammu and vice-versa.
 “Though the BEACON is entrusted with maintenance of the highway, we are effectively regulating the traffic to prevent any causality due to landslides or snowfall,” Wadoo said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 5 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST