Gangtok: The East district traffic police is presently conducting a mass education campaign to contain road traffic violations including misuse of horn, high beam and indicators by drivers in Gangtok.

Around 15 lady drivers from Gangtok participated in the campaign Thursday afternoon by holding placards at the traffic points along the NH 31A here appealing drivers to restrain from unnecessary honking and to use the high beams and indicators of their vehicles in a proper manner.

As claimed by the traffic officials, the mass education campaign against traffic abuses which was launched on November 1 has been successfully with good response from the targeted people. Road abuses like unnecessary or deliberate honking and improper use of high beams have dropped down seventy percent in Gangtok in the past three days, they said.

The campaign has seen traffic cops standing at fixed traffic points in the past three days with placards containing messages against road traffic abuses of misuse or delibera use of horn, high beams in busy traffic zones which can blind the driver coming from opposite direction, going neutral downhill which is risky and can also choke traffic and unauthorized stationing or parking of vehicles along carriage way.

Misuse of horn is particularly an irritant for residents along the highway, hospital patients and school students. The State government has recently notified the areas between Zero Point to Ruchi junction near Titanic Park and up to Ranka taxi stand as ‘no horn zone’ meaning drivers are not allowed to honk in these area which has education institutions, STNM hospital and other important hospitals, said DSP (traffic) Dhiren Lama to reporters today. The traffic cops are regularly sensitizing the drivers not to blow horn in the declared silent zone, he added. The campaign stems from the belief of the authorities that traffic cops alone cannot contain the road rule abuses unless the mass is involved and drivers show self-discipline. The traffic police has requested all stakeholders to inculcate the habit of road discipline so that the capital of the State is made free from all road traffic abuses and set an example throughout the State.

[FROM SIKKIM REPORTER]