Nashik motorists blocking ‘free-left’ at traffic signals to avoid e-challans

Nashik: The city police have started issuing e-challans from Feb 21 to motorists found jumping red signals or halting their vehicles beyond the zebra stripes, using CCTV footage from 40 traffic signals in the city, leading to complaints that motorists wanting to take a left at signals are not finding space to do so.With increasing awareness about the enforcement, many motorists ensure that they adhere to traffic norms at road signals. However, fearing they might cross the zebra stripes, motorists often do not move until the signal turns green, leaving no space for those who only wanted to take a left from the signal and do not need to stop.Mukesh Sharma, an industrial executive, said, "A large number of motorists, even those who have large cars, do not know where they should be halting their vehicle if they want to move right from the traffic signal or proceed straight ahead. Ever since the police started issuing e-challans from the footage of the CCTVs at the traffic signals, many people have started waiting until the signals turn green. As a result, there is no space left for those who want to take a left."ACP Advita Shinde of the city traffic branch said, "Motorists who want to proceed straight need to halt their vehicle in the centre, while those moving towards the right should halt in the right lane of the road. Space necessarily needs to be left for those who want to turn left. Owing to the lack of awareness among motorists, we are in communication with the NMC about making signboards, asking motorists to leave the left lane free for those moving left from signals."Officials added that at some traffic signal junctions, there are no free-lefts for motorists, and motorists should read the signal to ensure a free-left is available instead of honking at those in front.