4-wheelers mustn’t overtake from left: Police

Hyderabad: Traffic volunteers, during a lane discipline campaign in the city on Sunday, advised four-wheeler drivers to not overtake from the left. "On narrow roads, and especially on flyovers, four-wheelers overtaking from the left side can create dangerous situations for two-wheelers," they pointed out.

The event was held on Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad, by the teams under north zone ACP Shankar Raju and Gopalapuram Police Station house officer Venkat Ramulu.

Volunteers advised four-wheeler drivers to stay on the right-side lane while two-wheeler and autorickshaw drivers were urged to use the left lane. According to traffic rules, overtaking from the left on a single carriageway is illegal.

“The agenda is to create awareness about lane discipline,” said Naresh Raghavan, a volunteer. “Sometimes, four-wheelers overtake from the left. This traps bikers between vehicles and the median. It’s chaotic and then everyone starts honking and rushing. People need to be patient till the road gets less congested. Everyone must follow the rules.”

The volunteers used a microphone to guide drivers. They mulled installation of sign boards on lane discipline on the roads to spread the message.

Harsha, a volunteer, stressed the lack of awareness among drivers about lane usage. “Our motto is to educate people on how to navigate narrow roads and flyovers safely. People lack awareness about lane discipline. If we educate them, they will listen,” he explained.

ACP Raju acknowledged the initiative’s positive impact and said the police would look into implementing some of the suggestions. “Putting sign boards across the city is a good idea,” he said.