JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday called upon the Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police and the Jammu Municipal Corporation to launch a public awareness campaign before issuing challans for red-light violations.
In a press statement, BJP J&K spokesperson Adv Parimoksh Seth urged the Inspector General of Traffic Police J&K and the Commissioner of Jammu Municipal Corporation to conduct a comprehensive awareness drive before enforcing strict penalties for traffic signal violations.
Seth said many traffic lights in the city had remained non-functional for the past few years and that zebra crossings and demarcation lines had faded over time. He noted that the maintenance of most traffic lights has recently been handed over to the Jammu Municipal Corporation, while many commuters remain unaware of the operational status of these signals.
He further said that challans were being issued without first redrawing zebra crossings and demarcation lines or conducting public awareness campaigns. In several areas, he added, large trees have grown around traffic lights, obstructing their visibility for commuters.
Seth urged the authorities to ensure that traffic signals are clearly visible, remove any obstructions, and repaint zebra crossings and demarcation lines to guide motorists properly.
He said road safety is a shared responsibility between authorities and the public and noted that many commuters may not yet be fully aware of newly installed traffic lights, restarting of signals, changed traffic patterns, and updated enforcement measures.
Seth suggested that a dedicated awareness drive through local media, social media platforms, roadside signage, and community outreach programmes, along with redrawing of zebra crossings, improved visibility of traffic lights and display of signal timers, would help educate the public about the importance of obeying traffic rules.
He added that such campaigns could help prevent accidents, improve traffic discipline and promote responsible driving. Informing the public beforehand, he said, would ensure that enforcement measures are perceived as fair and aimed at public safety rather than merely imposing penalties.
The BJP also urged the authorities to give sufficient time to the public to adapt to the rules after undertaking a proper awareness campaign.
