Mind the gap: Cop focus on safe distance between vehicles

Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police launched a comprehensive awareness campaign titled 'Mind the Gap' on Friday, focusing on the growing menace of tailgating, which has led to multiple freak road accidents and even road rage incidents across the city in recent months.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Tailgating is driving too closely behind another vehicle.
The initiative, which combines both digital and on-ground efforts, aims to educate drivers about maintaining safe distances between vehicles. "We observed a concerning rise in road incidents linked to tailgating. In the past three months alone, we received dozens of complaints where tailgating was the primary cause," said a senior officer.
The campaign will utilise social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram, to disseminate educational content and safety guidelines.
Additionally, traffic officers plan to conduct awareness sessions at major intersections across the city. According to police data, tailgating-related incidents increase during peak hours on major arterial roads like EM Bypass and AJC Bose Road.
The campaign introduces the "three-second" rule — maintaining a minimum three-second gap between vehicles — as a standard safety measure. Digital displays at key traffic signals will demonstrate proper distances to be maintained between vehicles and showcase real-time examples of safe driving practices.
"We are not incorporating a penalty right now and clubbing it with an MV Act offence. We expect better driver behaviour at the crossings and even during parking," said an ACP.
Cops also plan to partner with several driving schools and automotive associations to extend the campaign's reach. Commuter Sumit Banerjee hailed the initiative. "I have experienced aggressive tailgating numerous times. It is dangerous. The two-wheeler riders are the worst offenders."
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Cops will monitor the campaign's effectiveness through CCTV footage. It will run for an initial period of a few weeks, after which the police will evaluate its success and consider extending it based on the results achieved. For more information about the campaign, citizens can visit the Kolkata Traffic Police website or call their helpline at 1073.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

4 hours ago

• Time of India

Cyber fraud racket busted, kingpin among 2 arrested

Varanasi: The cyber crime police in Varanasi on Sunday arrested two members of an interstate cyber fraud gang, including its kingpin, for duping people under the guise of offering business franchises of reputed companies. Producing the arrested duo before reporters, DCP (Crime) T Sarvanan said that the arrested accused have been identified as Sanjeet Singh (35) and Krishna Shaw, both residents of Kolkata. The police recovered 12 mobile phones, a laptop, multiple SIM cards, Rs 15,430 in cash, Rs 5.83 lakh frozen in a bank account, and a customer data diary from their possession. During investigation, it was revealed that Sanjeet Singh was the mastermind behind the operations. The racket came to light after Anil Kumar Singh, a resident of Bankat village in Lohata, filed a complaint alleging that cyber fraudsters had duped him of Rs 14 lakh on the pretext of offering a franchise of Adani Cement. Further inquiry revealed the gang's modus operandi involved creating or purchasing fake domains closely resembling those of reputed companies such as McDonald's, Dominos (Jubilant FoodWorks), JSW Steel, Adani Cements, KFC, and Haldiram. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo These counterfeit websites were promoted through social media advertisements, especially on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, to target aspiring franchisees. Once a potential victim showed interest, gang members would reach out using the collected leads and share forged documents, including letters of intent and approval letters, to gain the victim's trust. They would then demand payments under various pretexts such as registration fees, security deposits, and GST charges, which were transferred to accounts appearing to belong to the said companies. Police said the collected funds were later distributed among the gang members.

Hindustan Times

4 hours ago

• Hindustan Times

Wayne church shooting: Who is Brian Browning, man linked to CrossPointe Community incident?

Local media outlets cited authorities to report that the suspect involved in Sunday's attempted shooting at CrossPointe Community Church has been identified as 31-year-old Brian Browning. According to Channel2 Now, the suspect is from Romulus, Michigan. He was fatally shot by a church security guard after he allegedly attempted to carry out a violent attack during a morning service. Police and emergency response vehicles line the street at the scene of a shooting at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne(Getty Images via AFP) One person was injured at the church, which is located in Wayne - a city of about 17,000 people 26 miles (41 kilometers) east of Detroit. The incident took place around 11 AM local time, the church's pastor, Bobby Kelly Jr, told the Detroit News. Read More: Donald Trump 'obsessed' with 'handsome' Prince William ahead of second State Visit to UK: Report Police said one person was shot in the leg. Kelly said a church member ran the suspect over with his truck, giving the security guard time to shoot him. No one was hurt, he added. About 150 people were attending the service. 'He was run over by one of our members who saw this happening when he was coming into church. That gave our security guard enough time to act. His bravery likely saved many lives.' Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter III said it was too early to know why the suspect attacked the church. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino tweeted that bureau 'leadership and support teams' were at the scene and helping with the investigation. Read More: Donald Trump gave Iran two weeks, struck in two days. Here's why the US President didn't wait Commenting about the suspect, one social media user wrote: 'Brian Browning church shooter. Posted cryptic messages and wasn't affiliated with the church.' 'Suspect in Wayne Cross Pointe Community Church Shooting Identified as 31-Year-Old Brian Browning. His Facebook page is odd, fanatically religious and racist. I'm sure they will take his page down soon,' another one added on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Hindustan Times cannot verify these claims at the moment. Authorities are yet to confirm the identity of the suspect.

Time of India

5 hours ago

• Time of India

Police arrest vehicle thief after gunfire exchange

Kanpur: Police arrested a vehicle thief following an exchange of gunfire late on Saturday night. The offender sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation and was subsequently hospitalised by the police while his two accomplices escaped in the darkness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police teams were conducting regular checks late on Saturday night due to rising incidents of four-wheeler thefts across Govind Nagar, Barra, and Gujaini areas in the South Zone. During inspection, the police officers attempted to halt a suspicious numberless Mahindra pickup truck, but its occupants tried to escape. Upon police pursuit, the suspects opened fire, resulting in one criminal receiving a leg injury in the counter-firing, while two others fled in the darkness. The wounded criminal, identified as Shivam, son of Ashwani from Phaphund Auraiya, disclosed during questioning that he and his aides Bobby and Suhail were involved in vehicle theft operations. Their gang, based in Faridabad, specifically targeted older model vehicles. They recently stole two vehicles from Kanpur and sold them to a scrap dealer. DCP Deependra Nath Chaudhary said, "Their latest attempted theft was thwarted by vigilant policing. The authorities will implement stringent legal measures, including the Gangster Act, against the gang." The operation was conducted by police teams under ADCP South and ACP's supervision.