KOCHI: The alarming scenes witnessed in Kochi recently have once again brought the dangerous driving of private buses under the scanner, with the Kerala High Court expressing serious concern over the issue and observing that most private buses are plying like “elephants in musth”. The court also examined video footage of buses being driven dangerously on city roads, posing a threat to the lives of the public.
Observing that there is no rule of law on the roads, Justice Devan Ramachandran questioned whether the authorities were “sleeping” without taking note of the dangerous driving by private buses. The court asked why the police have been unable to prevent such incidents and observed that registering an FIR after an accident serves little purpose if preventive action is not taken.
The traffic police have failed to effectively address the problem, the court observed, recalling that it had earlier raised concerns over the “death race” involving private buses. Despite repeated directions, little appears to have changed, it noted.
The court observed that private bus operators appeared to have little fear of enforcement agencies and pointed out that the problem was not confined to Kochi but existed across the state. Referring to the recent incident in Kochi involving a private bus, the court said it appeared to be an attempt to deliberately hit a person.
A pedestrian narrowly escaped being run over. The court questioned whether steps could be taken to ensure that the driver involved does not operate a vehicle again. It stressed that people should be able to return home safely.
The court also criticised the practice of resorting to strikes whenever enforcement action is initiated, pointing out that protests should not become a means of resisting action for violations of traffic laws.
The court noted that students were injured after being hit by a bus in Kannur, but no protests were held over the incident. The court stressed that ensuring the safety of ordinary commuters must remain the priority.
Video examined
The court examined video footage of private buses being driven dangerously
The court asked why the police have been unable to prevent such incidents and observed that registering an FIR serves little purpose if preventive action is not taken
