Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh has assured that his ranks’ enforcement patterns are being monitored daily to ensure there is fairness in the administration of duties along the country’s roadways.
The official made this disclosure during a recent episode of Safeguarding our Nation, a government programme, in which he acknowledged the prevailing perception that traffic laws are not being applied equally, that “it’s all about who you know”.
“Perception drives conflict,” the Traffic Chief said, noting that this perception “haunts” the police force in the conduct of its enforcement operations throughout the country.
He added that the force, with the assistance of the government, has been implementing measures to limit the interaction between police ranks and the public. Furthermore, he noted that these systems aid in eliminating police biases.
“Several things are being done right now to rid us of that perception. One of them: the implementation of the Safe Road Intelligence System, which has at its core the automated e-ticketing process.
This addresses the issue without officer bias, intervention, or any discretion. So it’s not about who you are, but once you would have committed the offences, you would have been dealt with appropriately,” the senior official noted.
He added that the introduction of body pack cameras also ensures greater quality assurance for the services rendered by the force.
“Many years ago, we didn’t have but today we have 5,000-plus body-worn cameras in the organisation. Internal checks and balances have also been introduced and are working. An officer’s enforcement pattern is examined daily, and we can trace it to see where fairness is applied in the process,” he noted.
Moreover, he added that if or when an allegation is made against an officer, investigations are conducted thoroughly and the appropriate actions are taken.
“The system in itself is being improved daily. To what? To guarantee fairness in the process and transparency at all times,” the Traffic Chief said.
