Traffic cops are making motorists who violate the “free left” rule take an entire U-turn as a deterrent measure. The new rule, however, finds no mention in the Motor Vehicles Act and it has left violators fuming. Meanwhile, the cops defend themselves saying similar measures are taken the world over. “It isn’t fair to make us take an entire U-turn, especially in heavy traffic. At least there are no challans for this,” said V. Rajesh, a motorist.
Another motorist Viral Gupta said he was caught in heavy traffic for about half-an-hour when he was made to take the U-turn at Patny Circle, after he was found violating the newly-introduced rule. “It is too harsh. We are made to take a U-turn during the peak hours and we get delayed for a small mistake. Moving inch-by-inch in thick traffic adds to the pollution and wastes fuel. It is very insensitive of the traffic cops to have introduced such a rule,” he said.
However, additional commissioner of police (traffic) C.V. Anand explained, “The U-turn rule has been introduced as a deterrent measure. Instead of writing a challan, we are implementing this rule as some violators may be breaking the rule out of ignorance.” Mr Anand added that such measures were taken the world over. “In some places like Chennai, the violators are detained for a couple of hours,” Mr Anand said.