Road Safety – Our Roles and Responsibilities

On the penultimate day of India’s National Road Safety Week 2020 and the birth centenary of Padma Vibhushan Nani Palkhivala, this special Social Sanchar was convened to discuss the persistent issue of road safety and the responsibilities and duties of citizens, to ensure safety on roads.

V Citizens Action Network (VCAN) organised a discussion to allow citizens to interact with the Joint Commissioner of Police Traffic Mumbai, Shri Madhukar Pandey at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, on 16th January, 2020.

The Social Sanchar began with the welcome address by Smt. Indrani Malkani, Chairman VCAN, on behalf of VCAN and Mumbai Traffic Police and she gave a brief introduction about VCAN, Mumbai Traffic Police and road safety as an issue.

Smt. Malkani expressed her appreciative thanks towards VCAN’s Web Portal’s founding partner, Eureka Forbes; VCAN’s Social Sanchar’s venue partner, the Royal Bombay Yacht Club, as well as VCAN’s technology partner Teknowlegion and video technology partner April Broadcast; colleagues and networking partners and friends in the media, who enabled VCAN to take their work forward. She particularly mentioned how VCAN’s biggest strength lies with their collaborative college Jai Hind College and thanked the students for their help and support.

She then called upon VCAN trustee Shri. Rajan Jayakar, to say a few words to commemorate Shri. Nani Palkhivala’s birth centenary. Shri Palkhivala’s contributions to law and famous legal battles had been instrumental in emphasising the importance of the right to life and the undeniable fundamental rights of the citizens. Shri. Jayakar reminded the audience of these rights in light of the precautions and measures citizens must take to ensure road safety and life.

Smt. Malkani then introduced the guest speaker, Shri Madhukar Pandey. As an IPS Officer, Shri Pandey served in Naxal hit areas of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur as well as District of Thane and cities of Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Thane and the Indian Railways before being appointed to the current role of Joint Commissioner of Police Traffic, Mumbai. He has also been in charge of handling the security infrastructure of Wankhede Stadium. Shri Pandey is the recipient of many awards, including the DGP Insignia and the prestigious President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service, the Internal Security Medal and also received the Commendable ICT Implementation Award.

To view a brief profile of Shri. Madhukar Pandey click here

Shri. Pandey then delivered his opening remarks regarding road safety and responsibilities of citizens in ensuring the same.

Mumbai is a densely populated city with a lot of vehicular traffic. When it comes to personal or commercial transport, there are almost 2.4 million two-wheelers in the city and 1.2 lakh taxis. At any point, there are approximately 520 cars per kilometre on the road. There has also been a rise in the utilisation of public transport, with railway users increasing to 79 lakh passengers commuting daily.

With such large numbers of vehicles on the road, and people on the move via both private and public transport, the traffic police focuses on ensuring that traffic rules are followed and that the road infrastructures are appropriate for implementing these rules. Their main concern continue to be the threats to safety near the start and end of working hours around 9 am and 5 pm, which remain the same for most commuters. In order to better ensure road safety, especially during peak congestion, Shri. Pandey put forth a concise 3-part plan to deal with barriers to safety –

1. Understanding the problems concerning road safety by defining them- The Mumbai Traffic Police aims to better understand the issue by extensively analysing data regarding different causes of road accidents and problems. These are then applied through enforcement drives to strengthen the implementation of road safety rules.
2. Design- The Mumbai Traffic Police also uses this data to better plan and design road infrastructure in coordination with other concerned Authorities, light timings, and traffic police duties to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.
3. Raising awareness- Shri. Pandey’s team focuses on creating awareness about road safety issues and responsibilities through schools, colleges, offices etc. If citizens know about and follow rules regarding road safety, then the roads automatically become far safer.

Despite the progress made by the traffic police in reducing accidents, police officers are faced with several challenges. The extensive infrastructure construction going on in Mumbai means that the police have to improve and adjust their duties to accommodate the chaos causes by this construction. Civilian ignorance also often leads to problems like ambulances not being given way and hence unable to dispense urgent medical attention in the case of accidents. Oftentimes, police officers attempting to enforce rules are threatened by commuters as well. Such obstacles make it difficult for the efficient functioning of the police. Shri. Pandey advised that citizens be more responsible commuters.

The Q & A session was opened to questions from in-house audience members as well as questions via SMS and Twitter by the online audience, followed this informative introduction.

Please see the video and hear Shri. Pandey directly.

The Q & A session starts from the 30th minute onward.

To view the video of the event, click here 

Some of the key questions related to some vexatious issues are shared.

The first question raised a pertinent concern regarding the issue of illegal and fancy number-plating0 of cars on Mumbai roads. Shri. Pandey urged citizens to ensure efficient policing by reporting instances of illegal number-plating via the Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) app. By simply clicking a picture of the vehicle and one of the location where the vehicle was spotted, the police would be able to identify and hold liable the vehicle owner.

Heavy vehicles on the Western and Eastern Expressway were also troubling for a member. However, these heavy vehicles can only be restricted from certain areas at specific times. At all other times and places, they must be allowed to travel to ensure smooth business and transportation. Threats of motor cyclists driving rashly have also tried to be addressed by providing driving lessons and increasing nakabandi. In the case of the driver being a juvenile or student, Mr. Pandey clarified that parents are called and held accountable for rash driving.

The Q & A interaction saw some helpful proposals and suggestions. One member suggested the need for aiding taxi and auto drivers in Mumbai providing them with the knowledge of rules and laws in order to deal with difficult passengers. Shri. Pandey assured the audience that the MTP does provide training sessions for taxi and auto drivers, as well as free eye check- ups to ensure safety of the driver and the passenger.

One suggestion included the addition of buttons at crossings that would allow the light to turn red and pedestrians to cross safely. This was suggested in lieu of dangers to pedestrians such as cars stopping on the zebra crossing and the signal being too short. However, as Smt. Malkani reminded the audience, the button that had been installed previously near Nana-Nani park at Girgaon Chowpatty Beach, was vandalised, and so citizens should be mindful of taking care of public property, before such technology can be installed. Shri. Pandey also emphasised that pedestrians should not be jaywalking and should use subways that have been constructed across the city.

One audience member raised a question about the lack of traffic police near metro construction areas such as at the crossing near KC College. Here, Shri. Pandey informed the audience that because the metro work is temporary, it has been unfeasible to reorder the distribution and duties of the police. Instead, traffic wardens have been appointed at many such sites to maintain order. Another audience member requested for greater clarification regarding the hawking policies and the need to make them pedestrian-friendly.

At the end of the Q & A, Smt. Malkani drew attention to the Mumbai Traffic Police scheme of Traffic Guides. In 2018 as part of the activity for Road Safety Week, the scheme of Traffic Guides (voluntary work) was launched by then Jt. Commissioner of Police Traffic, at the Social Sanchar conducted.

Jai Hind College being VCAN’s collaborating college, coordinates with other colleges for all activities, including Traffic Guides.

Students of colleges identified and coordinated by Students and Faculty of Jai Hind College, were formed into squads and was activated thereafter. Duration of shift/duty under supervision of the designated Traffic Police Personnel of the concerned chowky, were confirmed mutually between the college and MTP.

Student Traffic Guides of 12 colleges are being given the Certificates of Participation to acknowledge their voluntary work.

The 12 colleges are:

Jai Hind College; K J Somaiya Engineering College; Sophia College; Siddharth College; Bhavan’s college; Govt. Law College; Sydenham college; H R College of Commerce; Elphinstone College; K C College; Sant Gadge Maharaj College.

Smt. Malkani concluded the session by inviting the other Trustees present, Shri Rajan Jayakar, Capt. Ashok Malkani and Capt. Sohrab Kapadia of VCAN to join her and then requested Shri Rajan Jayakar to present a memento on behalf of VCAN, to Shri Pandey. Thereafter Smt. Malkani invited the President and Vice-President of the RBYC to join her and present a memento on behalf of the Royal Bombay Yacht Club to Shri Pandey.

Thereafter, an official photograph was taken and all were invited for some light refreshments.

To view the photos of the event, click here

To view the video of the event, click here