Judge Anath venkadesh full order 5.The learned State Public Prosecutor submitted that the Additional Commissioner of Police has already got in touch with the experts in adolescent psychology and an attempt is being made to come up with a mechanism to deal with the psychology of these teenagers who are prone to such reckless driving.
6.This Court will take the present case as a sample case in order to evolve a mechanism to effectively deal with cases of this nature in future.
Crl.OP.No.5473 of 2024
N.ANAND VENKATESH, J
When the matter was taken up for hearing today, this Court requested the assistance of the learned State Public Prosecutor to come up with a mechanism to deal with cases of this nature. When the matter was called, Mrs.N.Devarani, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic North, Greater Chennai Traffic Police and Mr.P.Kumar, DC, Traffic North, Greater Chennai City Police, were also present.
2.A status report has been filed by the Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Greater Chennai Police, Chennai. The relevant portions in the status report are extracted hereunder:
3.I respectfully submit that some of the arterial roads have been identified as 'vulnerable stretches' for these young motorists, who attempt stunts and race recklessly, as these roads are broad and long. I further submit that these motorists often evade the police at junctions and escape, drawing cheap thrills from these episodes. I further submit that the Traffic Police have identified the following roads as key areas where this speeding phenomenon frequently occurs : Kamarajar Salai, ECR, EVR Salai, 100 Feet Road, Sardar Patel Road, Santhome High Road, RK Salai, Nungambakkam High Road, Anna Salai, and GST Road.
4.I respectfully submit that upon noticing these acts, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police have paid special attention to discourage racing on the afore mentioned roads and for this purpose, we have adopted the following methods:
a)31 locations on the above mentioned roads were identified and special vehicle check points were put in place apart from regular checking points.
b)A special team consisting of one Inspector, two Sub Inspectors and ten other ranks have been posted across the city in north, east and south district, and they have a special task to closely monitor bike races and its related activities.
c) A special scheme is in operation on Saturday, Sunday and festival holidays (Enclosed as ANNEXURE-1)
d) Zig Zag barricades have been laid in all the vehicle check points to discourage speeding of all vehicles.
e) 384 ANPR Cameras have been installed. These cameras automatically detect speeding vehicles and auto generate challans. This creates a database of violators who habituate speed driving or bike racing. The table below gives particulars of the area where these cameras are fixed and its present status:Sl.No. ITMS Corridors Monitoring Region No.of Junctions No.of Cameras Work Status
1 Troz-1 Corridor-1
Anna Nagar Anna Nagar 6th Ave Jn to Anna Nagar 4th Ave Jn and GNT Road 3+2 61 Functional
2 Troz-2 Corridor-1
Anna Salai Periyar Statue to Anna Rotary 5 102 Tender awarded
Corridor-2
EVR Salai Tailors Road
Junction to Ritherdon Road Junction
Corridor-3
Mint Moolakothalam
Junction to Stanley
Roundabout
3 Troz-3 3 Corridors Kasi Theater,Boradway,Royapettah 1 Point – – Tender Process
4 ITRS Located in various junctions 59 77 Functional
f)These are erected vide poles with weather proof cameras fixed on them. These cameras detect and transmit the details of over speeding with photo of the speeding vehicle. In most of the case, the driver's photo is also captured. Follow up action of registering a case and imposing fine is executed. Photograph of one such pole with camera is enclosed herewith as ANNEXURE-2.
g) In ECR, OMR/Kamarajar Salai and Koyembedu - Madhuravoyal roads we have commissioned three interceptor vehicles mounted with ANPR cameras. These regularly monitor these important junctions. They can detect, chase and arrest vehicles. Photograph of the vehicle is enclosed herewith as ANNEXURE-3. The Table below gives particulars of the area where the interceptor vehicles and its present status:Sl.No. ITMS Corridors Monitoring Region No.of Junctions No.of Cameras Work Status
1
Interceptor East Kamarajar Salai – 1 Functional
South ECR – 1 Functional
Noth Koyambedu to
Madhavaram,
Madhavaram to
Broadway. – 1 Functional
h) A database of old offenders involved in racing is maintained from 2022 onwards. This informs the department the history of the persons and for them the following are specifically done
a. These persons are being monitored closely.
b. So far 107 bonds have been executed for keeping the good behavior from the above violators.
c. It was realized many were in their teens and therefore their parents were/are being summoned and these violations of their wards are being informed.
d. Regular counseling is being given to these violators by the police officers.
e. Social media page of the above violators is being monitored. Whenever any of them post any Video of stunts or any traffic rules violation, action is initiated on them.
i) ANNEXURE-4 depicts a comparative chart showing zone wise and year wise comparison. That apart a sample of the biodata of the violator and photo post counseling with their parents are filed for reference.
j) The police department has also began Social Media monitoring persons. A Special team has been set up to monitor the post put by general public with reference to these violations. More than 1000 profiles of racers are regularly being monitored vide their special cells referring to their Instagram and Facebook pages. Thus far 21 cases have been detected and booked for posting stunts and speed racing photos and videos. ANNEXURE-5 is herewith attached showing a sample photo and the case booked. Only one case has been registered this year on 23.02.2024.
k) The Greater Chennai Traffic Police have also started registering cases under section 308 IPC between 2021 to 2024 and offenders were remanded.
l) 26 bike race cases have been booked from 2022 to 2024 (upto March 13). In the north zone 25 arrest were made and in south zone 47 accused were arrested during this period of 2022 to 2024.
m) The traffic police are creating awareness of informing the public of the existence of a Special dedicated telephone number in 9003130103. The call is received directly by the traffic control room. A person can either call or send SMS if they want to complain of these races/ over speeding.
n) A total of 18209 cases in the year 2022, 3988 cases in the year 2023 and 1016 cases in the year 2024 were detected in the heads of rash driving, over speed and racing. Breakup is given in ANNEXURE-6.
o) The traffic department has also began the exercise of sudden inspection of Automobile Shops. The automobile shops that presently modify bikes are being checked by the Inspectors and regular meetings are being conducted to ensure that modification is not done. We inform the shop owners that modification is against the rules and action including cancellation of shop licenses will be initiated if shops were found to be constantly involved in these illegal modifications or selling parts for these motivations.
p) In terms of awareness to public, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police has initiated and is following the following;
a. Awareness programs among College/School students, bike mechanic, at important public gathering places like beaches, melas, fairs through mic systems are being organized.
b. Advertisements are around placed commercial establishments to constantly remind and avert bike races.
c. Pamphlets to the general public are being issued informing the ill of speed driving/racing.
d. Short films comprising of traffic awareness is being displayed at public places and Cinema theatre to create awareness for the public.
e. Cinema celebrities are being roped to impress and create more awareness amongst their fans and youth.
f. Many bike racers were brought to Govt hospital accident ward and shown the consequences of accident. This visual impact has been quite effective. These youngsters are then encouraged to talk to their friends / public of their experiences.
5. I respectfully submit that apart from the above measures, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police have future action plan proposals. Future action plans proposed by the Greater Chennai Traffic Police include a multi-faceted approach that integrates innovative technologies, targeted enforcement, and community engagement to curb reckless road behavior, effectively reducing instances of bike/car racing and rash driving. It intends to adopt a multi-faceted approach that integrates innovative technologies, targeted enforcement, and community engagement to curb reckless road behavior, effectively reducing instances of bike/car racing and rash driving. Furthermore, I submit that the introduction of new methods is in the pipeline.
1) Advanced Surveillance and Monitoring Systems:
a) Traffic police intend to implement smart barricades. These are the present barricades that would be fitted with ANPR cameras and generate automatic ticketing for defaults. There is no human intervention except at dispatch of challan. We presume this would be an effective system to enforce speed limits. To commence, the department intends to place these special barricades strategically in the recurring known racing zones. A photo of these special future barricade is Annexed hereto in ANNEXURE-7.
b) Furthermore, plan to utilize drones for aerial surveillance. These would enhance visibility and presumably ensure rapid response to illegal racing events conducted even in inaccessible areas and outside normal road areas.
2) Targeted Education and Awareness Campaigns
a) Launch multimedia campaigns to better reach. Much leverage has to be drawn from social media, digital platforms, and traditional media channels to raise awareness of the dangers of bike racing and rash driving.
b) Collaborate further with schools, colleges, and community organizations to integrate education into curriculums and extracurricular activities to bring awareness about impact of bike racing and rash driving.
c) A dedicated approach should achieve the goal of discouraging racing on the roads by Chennai traffic police with an iron face adopting psychological, technological innovations.
3.This Court expressed its mind to the learned State Public Prosecutor to the effect that the persons, who are indulging in such reckless driving of vehicles (two wheelers and cars) mostly fall within the age group of 18 years to 25 years. These are teenagers who are in the grips of hormones without sufficient maturity. That apart, high powered bikes are now easily available in the market and hence some teenagers involve in reckless driving of vehicles. To a great extent, social media is also having its impact on such teenagers, who post these heroic deeds in the social media platform just to get the likes and comments of others.
4.The teenagers who are involved in such bike racing and reckless driving of vehicles should not be ultimately dumped as criminals and at the same time, they should also be made to understand the consequences of their reckless driving of vehicles. Therefore, there must be a mechanism like a conveyor belt where the teenagers who indulge in such reckless driving must get into the system and undergo a process and ultimately when they get out, they must have reformed themselves and will no longer involve in such reckless driving in future. Criminal jurisprudence in this area must be more towards reformation than branding such teenagers as criminals.
5.The learned State Public Prosecutor submitted that the Additional Commissioner of Police has already got in touch with the experts in adolescent psychology and an attempt is being made to come up with a mechanism to deal with the psychology of these teenagers who are prone to such reckless driving.
6.This Court will take the present case as a sample case in order to evolve a mechanism to effectively deal with cases of this nature in future.N.ANAND VENKATESH, J
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7.Post this case under the caption 'for passing further orders' on 24.4.2024.18.03.2024
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Crl.OP.No.5473 of 2024
