The nature and objectivity of the traffic rules is almost the same across all the states and UTs. The difference is in the way these rules are carried out. Most people in Punjab drive cars without pollution check certificates but as they plan to go to Chandigarh, they get the pollution certificates issued in a jiffy. The reason is very much obvious that in Chandigarh police is stern enough to enforce the traffic rules. That is why the recent rise in fine rates went so smooth. It shows that Chandigarh residents are schooled to be disciplined. Only the people from the adjoining states flout the traffic rules in Chandigarh. 

Why the people in Punjab disregard the traffic rules?

At first, in Punjab traffic light system is perfunctory and lacks proper coordination. It is rather fraudulent. Moreover, long and erratic power cuts paralyzed the traffic light system. Most of the light squares san traffic police personnel even when it is urgently required. It gives an extra opportunity and a bit more courage to the riders to ignore the traffic rules. Punjab police should coordinate with electricity department and know the probable power cut timings to control the traffic as the traffic lights go off.

Secondly, the traffic police in Punjab should sport transparent honesty in dispensing their duties while punishing and fining the traffic rule flouters.  In Punjab, as these flouters are caught by the traffic police they call up their contacts in the police or district administration and generally manage to escape without much difficulty.  But in Chandigarh, as the traffic police cache the culprit, immediately round it up and fine before one pulls out one’s mobile to find the ways and time to escape. Most of the traffic police officers do not entertain the phone calls from their seniors while performing their duties. So the onus is on executive.

Thirdly, every fifth car in Punjab wears a red beacon or hooter. These cars owners are “Punjab government’s authorized” traffic rule flouters. They feel that the red beacon or the hooter is a license to break the rules. These flouters incite the others to follow their ways. So the Punjab government should think twice before giving the beacon privilege to anyone.

In sum, political will, transparent honesty and executive determination is needed to nail the law breakers. 

The end