DMP to enforce new traffic rules from tomorrow

FE Team | Published: December 07, 2009 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

FE Report
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will enforce new traffic rules in the city from tomorrow (Tuesday), as the trial run ends today amidst continuation of violation of rules.
The DMP held a high level meeting Monday with Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) to review the situation on the ground in the three VIP roads since the new rule was introduced.
The meeting also decided that the DCC must complete road marking works and recalibrate the automatic traffic signals on these pilot roads by Monday.
It was also decided not to extend the time of the trial period.
DMP has enforced a set of new traffic rules including full automation of traffic signals, no parking and loading and offloading of passengers in the middle of the streets, maintaining separate lanes for light and heavy vehicles in two phases on November 22 and December 1 to ease chronic road congestion.
But the new rules failed to improve the city's chaotic traffic situation, as drivers of private cars, buses and trucks were found to be changing lanes to overtake other vehicles at will.
In most cases, traffic signals were not followed both by the drivers and traffic policemen on duty.
"Whenever there is less traffic on the road, the policeman on duty allows me to proceed ignoring the red signal," said Mirza, a bus driver on the Mirpur route.
A police sergeant admitted that drivers were yet to follow the DMP rules.
"The trend of switching lanes frequently has, however, reduced to a large extent during the trial period," he said.
On Sunday, the pressure of traffic was light in the morning but turned heavy at the end of the office hour, which created the usual confusion on the major thoroughfares.
A senior police official said drivers will gradually start following traffic rules because of the imposition of fine and seizure of driving licence for three months.
The DMP commissioner had given about two weeks to make the people aware of the traffic rules and said any rule violator would be fined Tk 1000 and his/her licence seized for at least three months.
DMP launched the three-lane system - first (right side of the street) is for the VIP and VVIP vehicle, private car, microbus and jeep and for those taking a right turn, second lane for minibus, bus, truck and covered van and the third for auto rickshaw, pickup van, tempo, human hauler and such other mode of vehicles.