Despite repeated traffic police warnings and driver training sessions, many Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses end up blocking the ‘free left’ at various junctions and city roads, causing inconvenience to motorists.
The Hyderabad traffic police booked 3,892 cases against TSRTC buses during a special drive in January for various traffic violations.
At most junctions and intersections, the provision of free left fails to streamline traffic flow, with motorists driving straight or turning right occupying the free lane designated for vehicles turning left as they wait at signals. In most cases, the buses are to be blamed for blocking up the free left lane.
While traffic police in the tri-commissionerates of Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Rachakonda have set up barricades at most junctions to clearly demarcate the free left and have a warning of imposing a fine of Rs 1,000 on the violators, this appears to have failed to discipline drivers.
During peak hours, the situation at the signals worsens because cars and bikes intending to turn left are unable to use the free lane. “Private heavy vehicles and RTC buses are the ones occupying these free left lanes and not allowing vehicles stuck behind them to proceed. We have to wait until the signal turns green and they move ahead,” complained a motorist.
Most road intersections look the same, from Monappa Junction to Khairatabad VV Statue Junction to Ambedkar Statue Junction and Punjagutta Junction.
According to traffic police officials, special drives against RTC buses and heavy vehicles are conducted on a regular basis, and cases have been booked for violations such as obstruction of free left, overspeeding, dangerous driving, stop line zebra line, stop on carriageway, not stopping in bus bays, and using multi-toned horns.
So far, the traffic police have held 80 road safety awareness classes in which approximately 4,300 RTC staffers were imparted comprehensive road safety knowledge and sensitised about traffic laws and rules.
“A plan of action has been adopted to realise the actions under 4 Es Traffic Management – Enforcement, Education, Engineering and Enablement. The Hyderabad Traffic Police will be continuing its drive for the aforementioned violations in the coming days as well,” said a senior police official.
Meanwhile, TSRTC officials stated that regular training sessions for bus drivers are being held with the assistance of traffic police officers. In the future, they intend to include intensive awareness and training sessions.
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