Should Traffic Police be given incentives for fine collections?

As promised, I’m back this week – though without all the thoughts put together – I must confess!

Interestingly, there is an added incentive to me to really get angry and pour all my vitriol in this post. Between Friday and Sunday, the rear of my car was kissed twice; once by an auto and once by a Sumo. Thank Allah there was no major damage – just a few scratches.

So, let me start this blog with an incident that took place in Switzerland, about a decade ago. A colleague of mine – let’s call him Raj – was there in winter; around late Dec-early Jan. One night, he had to go to someone’s house for dinner. It was past midnight when he was returning, it was snowing heavily, there was not a soul on the roads – just him, and the taxi driver.

At a junction, the driver stopped. Raj exhorted him to move on, pointing out that there was not a single vehicle coming from any direction, not a single person, not even a stray dog! Added to it, the junction was not manned by any policeman or a camera. Yet the driver refused to move till the signal turned green!

Imagine, stopping at a red signal knowing fully well that there is no problem if he jumped it! When Raj asked him, all that the driver had to say was “There was a red signal and I had to obey it”.

This was one extreme example of people obeying traffic rules. On the other hand, I have seen instances abroad where drivers were caught and fined for a simple offence like moving on to the shoulder of the road, when not allowed. The stick ensured compliance.

Moving from that, why is our mentality related to traffic the way it is? With the clarity of distance (Thank You, David Rock and RCS) and asking the 5 Why’s (Thank You, Sakichi Toyoda San), let’s try to understand it.

So, the fact is that we break traffic rules with impunity
Why – Because everyone else does it
Why – Because we know we can get away with it
Why – Because we can bribe the policeman
Why – Because he is underpaid. (I read somewhere once that a ‘gataari kaamgar’ – a person who cleans the drains – in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation has a higher salary than a constable. Can someone please remind me of the reference or correct me if I’m wrong?)

Got that in 4 why’s.

There is also another way to look at it.

So, the fact is that we break traffic rules with impunity
Why – Because everyone else does it
Why – Because we know we can get away with it
Why – Because there would be no policeman to catch us
Why – Because there are not enough policemen. (Tried opening the website of the Mumbai police to ascertain the number. Most pages do not open! Finally, on one page, I read this line – “The Traffic Control Branch has now grown to a strength of over 2,000” (Ref: http://www.mumbaipolice.org/traffic/org_fun7.htm) . And the Navi Mumbai Traffic Police chart shows a staff strength of 277. Yes, you read right, just 277. (Ref: http://www.trafficpolicemumbai.org/Navi%20Mumbai%20Traffic%20Police%20Zones%20&chowkies.htm)
Again, got that in 4.

Imagine, 2,277 policemen, including inspectors, senior policemen et al, for an area comprising the entire population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!!!

Have a heart, folks, for the overworked and underpaid policeman.

So, in short, policemen accept bribes because they are overworked; and because they are underpaid. In other words, monetarily dissatisfied. And here is an easy way out to earn some additional bucks, and possibly get back in some oblique way at the establishment.

So, why don’t we give them their due – and in the right way?

Just a thought. Increase fines to high levels, such that people will think not twice, but multiple times, about breaking rules. I mean, Rs.1,000 for driving in the wrong lane (I’d love to see those truckers on Vashi Bridge lining up), Rs.3,000 for overspeeding, Rs.5,000 for a jumping a red light...

And have an incentive scheme for the policeman – just like most salespeople have. 25% straight on every fine earned for the policeman, 5% for the superior officer. Keep 20% for quarterly incentives for the policeman / police station. That still leaves 50% of the amount that goes to the kitty of the traffic police for modernisation etc. Make all this amount tax free, and have strong rules on policemen caught over-charging commuters – or worse still, yet accepting bribes. A simple rule – dishonourable discharge.

Have surprise checks to ensure compliance, and get the college youth involved in this. NSS – here’s a chance to do something really visible, and earn grace marks.

What say, folks? We could put our collective heads together and present it as a case to the Jt. CP – Traffic. Simple, implementable thoughts on traffic management, including possibly-
Incentive schemes for policemen
Alternate days for vehicles to come on the roads
No four wheeler with only one driver / passenger in the morning / evening peak drive times to be allowed
Come to think of it – hologrammed number plates installed directly by the traffic police. Revenue for the police, and a way out of the number plate mess that we have. Incidentally, have you noticed, most cars having ‘fancy’ / regional number plates also have a symbol of one of the four major political parties?

Maybe it could be a way out of the mess that we have, maybe not. Maybe there would be all the bureaucratic rigmarole that would drag us down, maybe not. But we would never know till we try, right?

So folks, I’m adding two polls to this post. Do you think that incentivising policemen for fine collection is a viable idea, and should we take up some similar thoughts and present them to the Jt. CP – Traffic. I shall look forward to your comments and your votes.