In a concerted effort to tackle the menace of wrong-side driving and promote road safety, the Greater Chennai Traffic Police (GCTP) unveiled its “Neenga Road Rajava” (Are you the king of the road) initiative on Wednesday. The initiative urges the public to actively participate by sharing photographs of vehicles driving in the wrong lane, facilitating police action against violators.

Under the initiative, the GCTP’s social media team will closely monitor posts tagged with the designated hashtag, ensuring swift enforcement of traffic laws. The launch comes on the heels of staggering statistics, with 60,181 violators booked for wrong-side driving in 2023 alone. Highlighting the grave consequences of such reckless behavior, police underscored the correlation between wrong-side driving and road accidents, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to curb this hazardous practice.

In addition to enforcement efforts, the GCTP is committed to raising awareness about road safety among the public. To this end, a road safety awareness film titled “Neenga Road Raja va?” directed by filmmaker Vignesh Sivan was released alongside another video providing insights on adhering to traffic rules. These educational resources aim to discourage motorists from engaging in wrong-side and dangerous driving behaviors, emphasizing the importance of respecting traffic regulations for the safety of all road users.

R Sudhakar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), highlighted the positive impact of GCTP’s initiatives on reducing fatal accidents in Chennai. According to official data, the number of fatal deaths in the city limits dropped significantly from 573 in 2021 to 204 in 2023, underscoring the effectiveness of proactive measures in promoting road safety and saving lives.