Nirmal police use their life-size cutouts on highway to scare speeding drivers into slowing down

Nirmal: In a novel initiative to reduce road accidents and enforce speed control, the Nirmal District Police have installed life-size cutouts of police vehicles and traffic constables at key accident-prone locations along National Highway-44.

This low-cost, high-impact strategy is the brainchild of Superintendent of Police Akhil Mahajan, IPS, and aims to influence driver behaviour through the illusion of constant enforcement.

Cutouts installed at high-risk hotspots

The decoy police setups have been installed at Mekal Gandi in Gudihatnur mandal, and Bandham Crossroads in Neredigonda mandal. Both locations were identified as high-risk zones after a review of accident data from the past two years.

The life-size models include Dial-100 patrol vehicles and traffic constables, creating the impression of an actual police presence.

Drivers react instinctively to ‘police’ presence

According to SP Akhil Mahajan, the initiative taps into a common behavioural pattern: motorists tend to reduce speed, wear helmets, and follow traffic rules when they see police on the roads.

“Even a symbolic police presence prompts people to apply the brakes and drive more cautiously. This initiative is designed to trigger that instinct and reduce accidents,” he said.

Data-driven safety strategy

The decision to install these cutouts was based on two years of road accident analysis in the district. The majority of mishaps were found to be caused by over-speeding, especially in stretches with no active monitoring.

SP Mahajan emphasised that the initiative complements the district’s broader goal of “Zero Fatalities” on the highway. “This model serves as a psychological deterrent and addresses the limitations of manpower on vast highway stretches,” he noted.

Positive public response and future expansion

The initial feedback from motorists has been encouraging. Drivers reportedly slowed down, wore helmets, and exercised caution upon seeing the cutouts—demonstrating the concept’s immediate effectiveness.

The police department is now considering expanding the initiative to more locations across the district, based on its impact and public reception.

A step towards safer roads

This creative enforcement measure by the Nirmal Police underscores how innovation, data, and behavioural psychology can combine to enhance public safety. With limited resources, the district police are showing how impactful solutions don’t always require a heavy price tag, but just a smart approach.