Lorry drivers turn punching bags for cops

On March 11, a memo was issued by the Superintendent of Police, Khammam District, to fix radium reflectors on vehicles plying on national highways to prevent road accidents. The memo further stated that registration numbers should be etched on number plates to prevent theft of vehicles.

Activists observed that the agency concerned with the assistance of local police, were stopping and coercing the transport vehicles, plying on Khammam – Aswaraopeta Highway between Tallada and Kalluru, based on the memo. The activists also questioned why the Khammam SP had acted swiftly on a subject, which needed to be examined and acted by state and the centre?

A representation stating the above facts was sent to the principal secretary, transport department, AP Govt in April, but there they haven’t responded till now. Further, lorry drivers are still being subjected to harassment, based on the memo.

Harassment of lorry drivers by the law enforcing agents is not restricted to Khammam. A study conducted across a dozen major transport hubs, covering over 1,200 truck drivers, has revealed that in 60% cases, cops and officials extort money from truckers by stopping them, without giving a reason. It has also been revealed that around 90% of the bribe goes to policemen and transport department personnel.

The study was conducted by Centre for Media Studies (CMS) and Marketing and Development Research Associates (MDRA) at transport hubs including Ludhiana, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Vijaywada, Bangalore and Chennai. Sharing the findings, Alok Srivastava, a director at CMS, said the situation was not improving. When he cited the example of illegal tokens, passes and stickers that these government agencies issue to allow vehicles to pass without checks, drivers said, "these are valid for a month."

The findings,based on the surveyors interaction with drivers, fleet operators and law enforcing agencies, also exposed how truck and commercial heavy vehicles were the punching bags for enforcement agencies. Drivers claimed that in 12% cases, authorities challan truckers, even when there is no overloading.

They said harassment by police and transport department officials were the two major irritants for drivers on roads. While 77% of them felt police were the biggest irritant, 73% said it was harassment by transport department officials. However, drivers and truck operators admitted that they paid bribe for failing to meet norms or to get things done quickly.

They conceded that the major reasons for paying bribe at transport department offices were getting registration and fitness certificates besides getting and renewing permits.

On roads, truckers often pay bribe for lack of proper and valid documents, overloading, violations including rash driving. They also said that by paying bribe, they avoided hassles in physical verification of goods.

 In 60% of cases, officials avoid giving reason for stopping vehicle, but demand cash

 Corruption share: Police (45%), RTO (43%) & others (13%)

 Irritants on road: Harassment by police (77%) & RTO (73%), wait at inter-state borders (58%), outside towns/cities for no entry (55%)