Police Bolero Driving On The Wrong Side Crashes Into Bus! [Video]
Driving on the wrong side can be very dangerous. The Indian law clearly forbids drivers (and riders) from doing it. However, we often see drivers breaking the law. A video shared on Instagram shows a case in which a Mahindra Bolero likely used by the Traffic Police department was the culprit. It was being driven on the wrong side, on a one-way, until it crashed into an oncoming bus!
This incident seems to have taken place in Tamil Nadu. Some say it's north of Chennai, probably on the Tamil Nadu- Andhra Pradesh border roads. In the beginning, we see a Mahindra Bolero driving on the left lane of a one-way, but in the opposite direction of the regular traffic! It is being filmed by someone on a motorcycle which is going in the same direction as the SUV. (It will be hard to accuse the motorcycle for committing the same offence, as it was being ridden on loose sand near the road, and not the highway itself.)
The Bolero shown in the video has a dark Blue colourway which allegedly looks like the livery used by the Andhra Pradesh state traffic police. It continues to drive in the wrong direction, even after spotting oncoming traffic. Soon we see a TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) bus and a car coming against it. It should be noted that these vehicles are still on proper lanes, and are being driven responsibly.
Having seen the bus fast approaching, the Bolero driver slams his brakes hard. The SUV sheds speed and is soon brought to a complete halt. The bus, on the other hand, brakes late and hits the Bolero's front end before coming to a standstill. The impact wasn't large enough to cause serious injuries. The visuals, however, suggest it to be a deliberate attempt from the bus driver to teach the Bolero a hard lesson. It may also be the case that the bus driver got to know it was a cop car, late!
As per Indian laws, driving on the wrong side of the road can incur fines of up to Rs 1000 and imprisonment of up to three months. In many states, it is considered a non-compoundable offence. This means that the offenders might need to appear before the court, and cannot get away by paying fines alone! In case of repeated violations, the driver's license could be suspended and the vehicle could even be impounded!
Circling back, the video has been doing rounds on the internet. At the time of writing this article, it has surpassed 32,000 views. Netizens have been showering comments, which interestingly, are mostly in favour of the bus driver. Many believe that the Bolero driver earned his misfortune. 'Well done bus driver' said a user, while another remarked 'Most Satisfying Video I've watched Today'.
Cop Car Blocks Bus Driving On The Wrong Lane
Another incident of wrong-side driving was reported in Kerala. A private bus decided to take the wrong lane. It was likely running late, due to the place's ongoing highway construction. A Mahindra Bolero issued to Kerala's Police department saw the bus violating the law, and the officers on duty blocked its way. The traffic came to a standstill.
The officers stopped the bus and asked the driver to reverse his vehicle. He was made to drive all the way to the end of the line of vehicles which were waiting for their turns to bypass the traffic jam. This means that the bus would now lose more time than it would have if it hadn't attempted the wrong-side driving.
Public transport buses driving on the wrong side can be extra dangerous. In this case, the driver was creating inconvenience to the public and was also being a threat! Plus, he also risked the lives of all the passengers inside.