Bangalore Traffic Police and bikers...

This is something I have found really strange with Bangalore city traffic police...

Everytime I take my Pulsar out to drive in Bangalore, I ensure that I have all the "book and papers" with me, whereas I am not that particular when I take out my Innova... Reason...? 9 out of 10 times you get stopped by a traffic policeman asking for the documents if you drive a bike and almost never, if you drive a four wheeler, especially a bigger one.

Yes, you are supposed to carry all the documents relevant for the vehicle you are driving. If you don't, it is an offense under the Indian traffic rules. I agree 100%. No doubt about it. You deserve to get caught and pay a fine if you don't obey the rule. So that is not my gripe.. What is it, then.?

Now, look around when you are on the road...

• Do you see the rash driving sumo/qualis driver cutting off everyone on the way.?
• Do you fail to see the random vehicles coming against you, in the wrong way, against the rule.?
• Do you see a traffic block wherever the traffic policeman is "controlling" the traffic.? And do you fail to see that invariably, the traffic block is due to someone not obeying the rule.? And the traffic policeman is not taking any action against the law breaker.
  
• Do you see how the BMTC bus just went by.? crossing the red signal.? And the traffic police man simply watching that without doing anything..?
• ...
• ...

The list can go on and on..

My gripe is this..

In one case, with the bikers, the police is keen on enforcing the rule and ensure that you are compliant with the law, even though that may not be a direct threat to anyone's security. On the other hand, they are turning a blind eye to the the more visible issues which are potential threat for people's lives.

I have heard that Bangalore City Traffic Police force is under staffed and don't have enough people to control the traffic problem. If so, how come, I see three to four groups of traffic policemen at different points trying to catch bikers on my drive from Sarjapur Road to Whitefield.

Isn't this a bit ironical.?

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