Lines drawn on the streets bear a meaning: Time to pay heed to them

All across the national Capital, Delhi Traffic Police are stepping up efforts to ensure safety and security of those who venture out on the roads, with an aim to help them mind the law. 

Challans are being issued; traffic safety awareness campaigns are being organised and a whole lot of tech-savvy efforts are on to alter this trend of taking the law lightly and make Delhi’s roads safer. 

However, there are regular defaulters and violators who tend to break the law at their will. Incidentally, between March 1 and June 8, Delhi Police have issued challans to more than 90,000 people for breaking traffic rules. 

According to statistics, West Delhi, under which there are 10 circles, has the maximum number of traffic violators with 19,619 challans being issued in these three months for unlawful lane changing. 

Following West Delhi closely is Central Delhi which has seen 18,732 challans being issued within these three months.  Interestingly, the Northern range, having more number of circles falling under it, ranks third with 17,914 challans being issued within this time period.

According to Delhi Police, the Southern range of Delhi has 15 circles under it which makes it the biggest range. However, the statistics pushes it to the fourth position with a total of 16,527 challans being issued to traffic violators followed by Eastern range with 14,782 challans being issued.

According to sources, the Delhi Traffic Police will make more endeavours to check lane violation in order to make driving experiences better in the city. Display boards will be increased in number and vigilance in the ranges would be enhanced. In a bid to ensure road safety and reduce accidents in the national Capital, the department of traffic of Delhi police “will continue this drive further,” according to Dr Muktesh Chander, Special Commissioner of Police, Traffic.

Chander further explains that the lines drawn on the streets bear a meaning. In a statement, Dr Chander explained, traffic lane lines are broken lines which permit lane changing with caution. Similarly, bus lane is a continuous white line painted on the road on the extreme left lane which is to be only used by buses, heavy goods vehicles, medium goods vehicles and four-wheeled light goods vehicles. The Apex Court has directed that these vehicles shall be confined to the bus lane and equally no other motorised vehicle is permitted to enter the bus lane.

White colour is generally used for carriageway markings. For indicating restrictions, yellow markings are also used.

Single solid line, generally white, should not be crossed and lane changing is discouraged. Whereas, single solid yellow line which is basically an imaginary central verge, should never be crossed and overtaking is strictly prohibited.

On a road with two centre solid lines of yellow or white colour, where visibility is restricted in both directions, neither stream of traffic is allowed to cross the lines. Overtaking is also prohibited in both the directions. Similarly, right turn manoeuvres are strictly prohibited.

If the line on the driver’s side is broken, he may cross or straddle it. Overtaking is allowed but only if it is safe to do so. If the line of driver’s side is continuous, he must not cross or overlap it. For single yellow lines, a driver cannot cross the line except while turning right or taking a U-turn. While changing lanes, adequate precautions should be taken. Use of mirrors should be undertaken in the right perspective. Traffic moving on the right should be given precedence as it has the right of way.

He further goes on to add: “In order to bring about a visible impact on driver’s behaviour in the city and ensure lane discipline amongst motorists, the Delhi Traffic Police are laying more emphasis on prosecuting motorists found indulging in improper lane changing, road hogging between the stream of traffic, not driving in the designated lane.”