Shun online meeting while driving: Cops to techies

Bengaluru: For some tech employees, their morning commute on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) doubles up as office time. But now, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has proposed to keep one thing out of that commute: online meetings behind the wheel.In a bid to curb congestion and improve road safety on the busy ORR, the BTP has suggested that IT companies advise employees against attending virtual meetings while driving. The police contend that drivers taking work and audio calls could lead to distractions, resulting in slower movement, sudden braking and lane indiscipline. Thus, adding to congestion.The suggestion is a part of a corporate mobility presentation prepared by the BTP to decongest the ORR. A senior traffic police officer told DH that officers on the ground regularly observe IT employees taking work calls during their morning commute. “When drivers multi-task, they lose concentration on the road. This can cause vehicles to move slower and lead to sudden braking, which contributes to congestion and accidents,” the officer said.The BTP has suggested that companies ask employees to take meetings only after reaching their destination or while completely stationary. The recommendation could also be incorporated into corporate codes of conduct and road-safety awareness programmes.The officer said distracted driving was not limited to IT employees. “We see a broader issue across Bengaluru, including among auto drivers, where people are watching reels while behind the wheel,” he said, adding that mobile phone use while driving affects reaction times and traffic flow.However, the suggestion has not found much enthusiasm among the industry.A spokesperson for the Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA) said the police should first focus on enforcing basic traffic rules, including action against wrong-way driving, indiscriminate parking and heavy-vehicle movement during peak hours.Traffic police announce diversions, parking restrictions in central Bengaluru for KPCC protest at Freedom Park today”Commuters take meetings in cars precisely to beat the traffic and avoid wasting productive hours. Enforcing rules against working while commuting is practically impossible for both companies and authorities,” the spokesperson said.ORRCA maintained that addressing fundamental traffic violations would do more to bring order to Bengaluru’s roads than regulating commuters attending work calls while travelling.Raghavan Rao, an IT professional, who regularly commutes on the ORR, said: “I take calls while negotiating the traffic on ORR. This is a distraction, but it helps me save time and get some work done on the go.”For Anitha Sundaran, a techie, work during commute has become a way to adapt to the chaos on the road. “When traffic is at a standstill, I don’t find any harm opening my laptop or getting into work mode. We do that all the time. A seamless commute in Bengaluru has become a distant dream. So, this is our way of adapting to the chaos and still getting work done.”  Quote: “When drivers multi-task they lose concentration on the road. This can cause vehicles to move slower and lead to sudden braking which contributes to congestion and accidents.”- Senior BTP officer Quote: “Commuters take meetings in cars precisely to beat the traffic and avoid wasting productive hours. Enforcing rules against working while commuting is practically impossible for both companies and authorities.” – ORRCA spokesperson

Source: Deccan Herald