Responding to a recent complaint in its newly opened Facebook page, the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division (MTPD) commented, “The Vehicle and Transportation Management Act 2049 and Regulation 2054 does not have proper direction regarding the use of cell phones,” and added, “But if we have to analyze the road fatalities, the use of cell phone is a prime reason.”
Contradictorily, MTPD has not maintained any statistics or carried out any investigations regarding accidents or deaths related to cell phone use and driving. Of the 678 registered cases, most of the driving licenses were seized but there is no further information on casualties or damages, if any.
The use of cell phone while driving is one of the eight major traffic violations. Since 2003, the MTPD has been taking actions against violators and conducting various awareness campaigns, but cell phone etiquettes have been freewheeling.
“Roughly, three per cent of the total number of accidents are caused due to the violation of this rule but the actual rates are higher,” informs Superintendent of Police Jagatman Shrestha of MTPD.
Amongst the 800,000 vehicles that swerve notoriously in the capital, the above statistics might be just a handful of cases that have come to notice of some 1,000 traffic personnel mobilized in the Kathmandu District. Clearly, the law enforcement of this serious traffic violation that can cost lives is flawed.
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