“Traffic personnel do not book police vehicles and drivers even though they spot them jumping signals or driving recklessly. That fuels their tendency of not following traffic rules,” said an officer of the traffic department.

Drivers of requisitioned vehicles are said to be the worst offenders. “They become excited on getting the opportunity to drive a car that carries a windscreen plate with “Police” written on it,” the officer said.

The traffic department intends to conduct a similar programme for drivers of government vehicles after training its own drivers. Almost 4,000 government vehicles and more than 300 of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation ply on city roads every day. “But it will take us time to cover all drivers of government vehicles. If we can make them follow rules, the incidence of rash driving can be brought down,” another senior police officer said.

The police have invited drivers of private cars to participate in the training sessions that are under way. “If the rule book is to be followed, drivers who are booked for reckless driving have to attend such a training session to get back their driving licences,” the officer said.