Around 400 ‘captured’ violating traffic rules

KOCHI: As many as 400 people are booked every day for violating traffic rules through the surveillance cameras installed at various parts of the city, said Motor Vehicles Department officials. “On an average, 400 complaints are being registered every day and show cause notices are being sent to those who violate the rules,” said T J Thomas, Regional Transport Officer. He, however, admitted that the department was finding it hard to cope up with the increasing traffic cases. “The department is reeling under shortage of staff,” he added.
Thomas also said that there is better transparency now as the persons cannot deny their fault. “Everything is captured by the cameras and the offenders cannot deny committing the mistake,” he said.
“The cameras are installed at 15 places, mainly on the highways, across the district. The installation involves two types of cameras - one to capture the image of the overspeeding vehicles and another to click vehicles crossing the stop-line and zebra crossing at the junctions,” he said.
However, Thomas said that the drive has just begun. “Cases of overspeeding increases during the night time. We have noted is that long-distance night buses, especially, Volvo buses travel at a speed of 150 km per hour. The permitted speed for these vehicles is 60 km per hour. Also, some of the high-end cars touch the speed of 200 km per hour on the National Highways,” he said.
Not only the highways but even city roads are now under camera surveillance. “We have caught more than 800 people in the last one month. The cameras are very helpful in tracking the rule violators. In the city, most of the people are caught for not following traffic lights and crossing the  stopping-lines and zebra crossing,” an official with the Police Control Room said. Motor Vehicles Department has also intensified drive against drunken driving.
“In the last two weeks, we have suspended more than 200 licenses for drunken driving. As of now, more than 2400 licenses have been suspended in the last three months,” Thomas said.