Rs 500 traffic fine would be charged if rear-view mirrors and indicators are not in place

Bengaluru: The city police said that they will start charging fine on those vehicles that would not have rear-view mirrors and the indicators in working condition.

The move is a part of the measures implemented to prevent accidents. For each of these offences, the penalty is Rs 500 and cases will be booked under the Motor Vehicles Act.

BR Ravikanthe Gowda, joint commissioner of police (traffic) said that of all the accidents reported across the state, a majority of them could have been prevented if the riders/bikers took a look into their rear-view mirrors or had switched on indicators while taking sudden turns.

He said, “A look into the rear-view mirror before taking a turn will help avoid accidents. Switching on indicators will alert other road users, signalling that you will be taking a turn. Not only moving vehicles, even the ones parked by the roadside such as trucks and cabs often fail to switch on parking lights or indicators. There are many examples of fatal accidents, where the rider or driver would have rammed into such parked vehicles. Again, switching on indicators or parking lights could have saved lives in such instances.”

On the other hand, vehicles users have their own reasons for not having mirrors. Shashikumar DS, a retired private company employee from JP Nagar said, “Initially, I used to open both the rear-view mirrors of my car. Twice they were broken by vehicles overtaking mine or those coming from the opposite direction. Since then, whenever I drive inside the city, I fold both the mirrors to protect them. Each mirror costs at least Rs 1,500 and the rate is more for high-end cars and SUVs.

N Varun, a degree student from Rajajinagar, said that his bike’s rear-view mirror was broken when he left his vehicle in the college parking lot. He said, “Students randomly flip the mirrors to comb their hair. Gradually, the plastic thread holding the mirror becomes weak and it starts dangling. Many youngsters also consider mirrors uncool.”

Ravikanthe Gowda said that most of the motorbikes of youngsters are without mirrors.