In a firm no-nonsense move, Hyderabad Traffic Police booked 10,652 motorists for wrong-side driving between October 1 and 7. The move comes as part of a special crackdown to improve road safety and discipline after recently the newly appointed Hyderabad city commissioner VC Sajjanar warned about the wrong side driving to the public and asked the public to not do the same.
Officials explained that wrong-side driving is one of the top causes of road accidents and traffic jams in the city. Many motorists, in a hurry to skip a U-turn or save a few minutes, drive against the flow, creating chaos for others. “Such reckless driving cannot be tolerated. Rules are for everyone and violators will face strict action,” a senior officer said, reflecting Sajjanar’s tough and strict policing methods for public safety.
Special teams were deployed across busy junctions and accident-prone stretches. Those caught were fined and repeat offenders had their vehicles seized. The message from the traffic police was loud and clear: public safety comes first, shortcuts won’t be allowed. Authorities are also planning awareness campaigns, but the focus will remain on strict enforcement. In Sajjanar’s well-known style, the police want both punishment and education to go hand in hand.
Hyderabad’s traffic is already under heavy strain due to rapid growth and increasing vehicles. Experts believe the only way forward is strict rule enforcement along with public cooperation.
As one officer put it: “Just one wrong-side driver can put hundreds of others at risk.” However, commuters complain about how long the U-turns are as someone who wants to travel to one area beside each might have to travel another area to catch the U-turn to reach this nearby area thereby increasing the distance by multifold in comparison to before. It is important to note that the commuter’s concerns are taken into consideration in this regard and look into it.
However, the fine drive will continue in the coming weeks, with police urging motorists to follow lane discipline and respect traffic rules. Citizens are being reminded that driving responsibly is not only about avoiding fines but also about saving lives.
The message by Sajjanar is simple and strong : drive safe, follow the rules, and don’t test the law.