RTO wants senior citizens to keep tabs on errant drivers

Mumbai: In an attempt to rein in rogue drivers who flout traffic rules with impunity, the RTO is planning to rope in senior citizens to be its eyes and ears on the street.      A senior RTO official confirmed to TOI that a proposal in this connection has been sent to the transport department and is yet to be approved. "We want the senior citizen groups to act as watchdogs and alert us about nuisance elements on roads," the official said. The RTO also plans to take the assistance of traffic police personnel in cracking down on the offenders.      The official said that once the scheme is implemented, there will be a dedicated helpline and email address on which citizen groups will be able to lodge complaints by providing details such as the location, time and nature of offence (speeding, playing loud music, jumping signal) and the vehicle number.      "Once a complaint reaches our desk, we will use our computerized records to find out the motorist's address. In case it is an old vehicle (prior to 2006), we will look up our manual records," another official said. The RTO will then send a warning letter to the offender. "In many cases, underage drivers take their parents' car out for fun rides. In such cases, though the letter will be sent to the youngster's parents, it will be a warning for the child," the official said.      "We will seek help of traffic police to keep a watch on junctions which witness most violations," said the official. SILVER LINING  THE PLAN      The RTO has sent a proposal to transport department to involve senior citizen groups to keep a watch on rash driving and other traffic-related offences      If the plan is implemented, the RTO will set up a dedicated helpline and an email address on which the groups can lodge complaints  CITIZENS TO KEEP TABS ON  Rash driving  Playing loud music in the car Signal jumping Racing car or bike