Wrong-side driving a norm in Dera Bassi

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, January 6

Wrong side commuting by residents of Dera Bassi has become a cause of concern. Heated arguments and scuffle have become a norm in the city at various points where people usually drive in the wrong direction. Commuters continue to ply in wrong lanes at rotaries and below flyovers where no traffic cops are deployed.

The fear of being challaned by the Traffic Police seems to be diminishing among city residents, who have started violating traffic rules with greater frequency. Two-wheeler riders are among the most common traffic violators, be it riding without helmets, taking the wrong side on the road, or triple-riding.

At several major intersections in the city, it does not take much to spot vehicles on the wrong side. Lack of enforcement and tardy action against offenders have added to the problem. As a result, a number of traffic violators are going scot free.

The situation is acute at the Dera Bassi-Ambala stretch along the flyover. Vehicles moving towards Dera Bassi often travel on the wrong side putting other motorists at risk. These vehicles cut short their route by avoiding the approach road resulting in traffic snarls during the peak hours.

The Dera Bassi-Barwala intersection is another spot where wrong-side driving has become a menace. Motorists as well as four-wheelers going towards Mubarikpur along the Dera Bassi railway overbridge near DAV School, drive on the wrong side on this busy intersection.

However, by taking the wrong side, motorists remain prone to collision with other vehicles coming from the right side at a high speed from the Chandigarh side. Youngsters, especially college students, do not care about traffic rules.

Any major incident can take place at any moment on this stretch due to these traffic violations.

Driving on the wrong side of the road is considered a traffic violation under the Motor Vehicles Act and there is absolutely no monitoring by the traffic police to check offenders on the stretch, said Amrik Singh, a local trader.

Hari Ram, a resident of Dera Bassi, said, “People who flout norms are putting the lives of others at risk. The traffic police must pay attention towards such violations.”

Residents demanded that the commuters should be made aware of the hazards of the wrong-side commuting and stringent action must be initiated against those flouting norms.

Balwinder Singh, Traffic In-charge, Dera Bassi, said: “We have been penalising offenders every now and then for wrong-side driving”. He said they recently held a seminar at the school and made students aware of traffic rules and road safety measures.