According to the police, wheelies can be highly distracting for other motorists, leading to a potential increase in accidents. “When drivers are startled or mesmerised by a motorcycle performing a wheelie, their focus may shift away from the road ahead. We have seen cases where drivers take their eyes off the road to watch someone do a wheelie. This distraction can result in rear-end collisions or other traffic incidents. Besides these, wheelies can disrupt the normal flow of traffic, causing congestion and frustration among motorists,” said a police officer.
Sources said that in Bengaluru, the sight of ambulances caught in traffic is common. Despite the blaring emergency sirens, these ambulances frequently face gridlock, making it challenging to proceed ahead. Recognising the importance of time for ambulance drivers, who strive to transport patients to healthcare facilities during the golden hour, the traffic police hope the app will facilitate communication between drivers and the control room, enabling quick intervention.
Based on the data collected, the police say they would be able to manage the vehicles exiting tech parks in the evening. The data will be collected through the app issued by the BTP; alongside a daily count of four-wheelers will have to be provided to the police too.
Responding to this decision, Vajapeyam Srivatsa tweeted, “Banning HTV during peak hour is a decade-old rule; only effective implementation is the key. With metro work, it is difficult for Bengaluru traffic police to distinguish. If they make some similar identification or issue passes only for metro project vehicles, this will help”.