The bench of Rajasthan High Court, in a historic judgement, has directed the traffic police to collect photographs of people, who talk on the mobile phone while driving, and forward their information to the regional transport office for cancellation of driving licence. Yes, you read it right. A bench comprising Justices Gopal Krishan Vyas and Ramchandra Singh Jhala ordered the traffic police to ensure that no driver shall speak on mobile phone while driving vehicle. The Court also directed the RTO and transport department authorities to initiate proceedings to cancel licences after giving an opportunity for hearing.
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The order was passed after the additional commissioner of police (traffic) told the court that a large number of four- and two-wheeler drivers used mobile phones while driving, which was not permissible under the law and caused accidents. The bench directed the traffic police that if it is found that vehicle drivers are using mobile phone while plying the vehicles, then after obtaining their photographs and other credentials the same may be forwarded to the concerned RTO for cancellation of driving licence of such erring person. The usage of mobile phones while driving had claimed at least 2,138 lives in 2016 across the country, which experts said was hugely under-reported since there is hardly any scientific investigation or recording of fatal crashes in India.
The World Health Organization has stated that people using mobile phones while driving face four times higher risk of crash. Recently, 13 school-going children were dead in a bus-rail collision in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh as the driver was talking on phone while driving. Union Road, Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had told TOI last week, “People using mobile phone and taking selfies while driving are increasingly posing a risk to themselves and others as well.” A recent survey by SaveLife Foundation had found that nine out of 10 drivers believed using mobile phones while driving was unsafe but 47 percent of them admitted to having received calls while behind the wheel.
Source - ET Auto
