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FAKING IT: Cut-outs of traffic policemen on their way to the Eastern Express Highway. It is hoped the dummies will deter speeding drivers. PIC/RANE ASHISH |
Yesterday, this paper broke the story of how the Mumbai traffic police, in its bid to deter speeding drivers on the EEH, placed life-sized dummies of cops â an officer and a constable â with a dummy speed gun.
Said Gavas, "I knew the traffic police were going to use cutouts, but I was shocked to realise the 'cop' had my face. I'm very excited and I know the move will work." Sawant was very shy and barely said anything, but he said he was thrilled and had helped prop them up on the highway.
The four cutouts (two each of Gavas and Sawant) were placed at 2.30 pm yesterday at Vikhroli and Kanjurmarg, but motorists who saw them did not believe they were real, not even for a moment.
Avinash Telang, who travels from Bhandup to CST every day, said, "I spotted the cut-out when I was a few metres from it. I thought it was an advertisement for traffic cops.
I don't think that speeding cases will decrease because of this." Arvind Gaonkar, who was driving to Bhandup, said, "In a few days, people will know the highway has dummy traffic cops. What's the point?"
However, Sanjay Barve, joint commissioner of police (Traffic), is unfazed at the criticism, "This is the response on the first day. We will not make changes to the cutouts now. If they stop acting as speed deterrents, of course, we are open to changes." The number of cut-outs may also be increased.
Or there's always Anil Kamble's advise. The rickshaw driver from Mulund said, "Instead of using traffic cops in cut-outs, they should pictures of celebrities like Mallika Sherawat. It would have much more effect."
Amen to that.
The cutout test
To judge whether the cutouts are work and curb speeding drivers, traffic police will set up camp at least 200 m away from it with speed guns. If the cutouts work, then speeding drivers would have reduced their speed to the prescribed limit of 60 kmph.
