PUNE: The traffic police booked 685 people in 2018 for not installing rear view mirrors on their vehicles.The fine for not installing such mirrors is Rs200 per offence. The traffic department takes about 9,000 actions daily against motorists for various violations, said Tejaswi Satpute, deputy commissioner of police (traffic). Going by last year’s data, fewer than 2 people per day were booked for not having mirrors.“There is no question that people should have mirrors, it is a violation not to. It becomes difficult, however, to spot a mirrorless rider till the rider comes very close, which is a limitation. If the vehicles are driving at some speed, it becomes difficult to stop them. That is why the number of cases booked is low,” Satpute said, adding, “Most people caught are were those stopped for another offence.”Mirrors are mandatory in both two- and four-wheelers to enable the rider/driver to have a reasonable field of indirect vision behind and to the sides.“The regulations also define certain angles for which the rider/driver should be able to see. People remove (the mirrors) for several reasons. The need for such mandatory safety devices comes with the culture and sensitization of people,” said Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI.“People don’t think mirrors are compulsory. Even on the expressway, people drive without opening their side mirrors,” said deputy regional transport officer Sanjay Raut . He said taking action was the traffic police’ prerogative and that the RTO can check only when vehicles come for in registration.

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