How traffic cops are trying to make motorists follow new rules in Gurugram

GURUGRAM: Traffic police, along with Road Safety Organization (RSO) — a body under Haryana Police — organised a “smiley” campaign on the last day of a state-wide initiative to sensitise motorists on traffic rules and make them aware of the new Motor Vehicle Act penalties on Sunday.
As part of the campaign, small smileys were given to motorists who followed the traffic rules and offenders were given sad emoticons to remind them to follow the rules next time.
Kicking off the third and last day of the state-wide traffic ‘Special Awareness and Educational’ programme at Galleria Market, DCP traffic Himanshu Garg called upon citizens to obey traffic rules and make roads safer.
“Instead of taking coercive actions, we decided to educate people first and tell them that violating traffic rules will now invite hefty penalties,” Garg told TOI.
“A plain and simple message runs a risk of fading away from people’s memory. But, when a message is delivered in a unique and interesting way people take interest and remember the message. This is why for past three days we have been using innovative ways of reaching out to people,” Garg added.
Apart from the smiley campaign, traffic policemen across the city have been engaged in multiple awareness initiatives over the past three days, like gifting roses to errant drivers and organising discussions with auto-rickshaw, cab and truck drivers, among others.
All SHOs, DSPs, district SPs, Commissioners of Police and Range ADGPs/IGPs across the satate were directed to focus on spreading awareness about increased penalties and new offences under the state-wide campaign.