Action if anyone talks on phone while driving: DMP chief

DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia on Sunday threatened stern action against anyone using a cellphone while driving a car.  He said that drivers using a cellphone while driving will be detained immediately and that their car will be seized by the traffic police. 

He made the comments at the inauguration ceremony of a pedestrian awareness programme titled “Pathacharir Koronoio” at Kakrail in the capital on Sunday.

The DMP commissioner pointed out that talking on a mobile phone while driving is a key cause of automobile crashes. “If drivers talk on a cellphone, they get distracted from their concentration on driving, and that results in accidents” he explained.

The DMP Commissioner added that “Not only drivers but pedestrians as well can cause accidents by such negligent behaviour. Pedestrians often cross roads wearing headphones, and most of them don’t even use zebra crossings. They stop oncoming traffic by gesture while standing in the middle of the road.”

“From now on we will take action against them too,” he warned.

He urged people to keep the left lane of roads free. He said he had ordered the traffic department to confiscate vehicles parked on the left lane and send them to the wrecking yard.  

He also declared that from now on the documents of drivers and cars won’t be seized by the police to fine anybody in any charge. Drivers will be able to pay a fine on the spot by using debit cards or credit cards of any bank. They will also be able to pay in cash or by mobile banking services like bKash and Rocket, he added.

“This will also help drivers or owners of cars. A wide range of irregularities and corruption took place in collecting those fines before. I hope the latest measures will help stop such unholy practices,” said the DMP commissioner.