That’s the score of auto drivers, while cab drivers have over 45,000 cases for traffic violations

Autorickshaw drivers in the city were slapped with over 1.17 lakh cases for various violations in January and February alone.

Wrong parking tops the list of offences, followed by ignoring lane discipline and jumping signals.

The traffic police have filed 14.25 lakh cases this year against all categories of vehicles. Last year, the number was over 76 lakh.

Routine affair?

Autorickshaw drivers say that getting notices for traffic violations is almost a routine affair. Nagesh Babu T.R., who has been driving an autorickshaw for the past seven years, said he had lost count of the money he has paid in fines. “Even if we are waiting for passengers on the roadside, we will be fined for wrong parking. On the other hand, private taxis, which have halved our earnings, are rarely targeted for violations,” he complained.

Syed Iqbal, another driver, said he had received seven notices from the traffic police in seven years, all of them for stopping on the zebra crossing at signals and for wrong parking. “There is nothing we can do about it. We just pay the fine and carry on with our work,” he said.

Training for drivers

Speaking about efforts to “train” autorickshaw drivers in following the rules, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem said close to 4,000 drivers have been trained in the past. “We would like to revive this training, provided we get sponsors, as we have to pay a day’s wage to each driver for participating, which works out to at least Rs. 250,” he said.

‘Not just autos’

Dismissing allegations that autorickshaw drivers are being targeted, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M.A. Saleem said 45,360 cases had been booked against cabs. “We have booked 5,588 cases against buses of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation whose fleet size is 6,000-odd,” he added.

Shocking numbers

No. of autorickshaws in the city: 1.45 lakh

No. of cases in 2016: 1.17 lakh

Wrong parking: 74,253

Not following lane discipline: 8,969

Jumping signal: 7,147

Refusing to ply: 1,981

Excess fare: 1,362

Total no. of cases filed this year (for all vehicles): 14.25 lakh