Talking on your mobile phone while you are driving in Rajasthan, could make you lose your licence. The decision taken by the Jodhpur bench of Rajasthan High Court has asked the traffic police to take serious action against violators. They are told to take photographs of those who violate and then forward their credentials to the regional transport office for cancelling the licence. The no mobiles while driving has been taken very seriously by the High Court.

The additional commissioner of police (traffic) had told the court that there were a large number of people who were using cellphones while driving, which is actually not permissible. The court has thus decided to take stern action against the cause which is one of the major factors of accidents. According to World Health Organisation, those using phones while driving face four times higher risk of crash. This has been a meance not just in the country but across the world. The court has told the traffic police "ensure that no driver shall use mobile phone while driving vehicles and if found using them, then after obtaining their photographs and other credentials the same may be forwarded to the concerned RTO for cancellation of driving licence."

Every smartphone user is addicted to it and cannot do without it for long periods. It poses a huge risk to not just the one who is driving but also to others on the road. It is a very big distraction. Use of mobile phones has claimed about 2,138 lives in the year 2016 which was also hugely unreported. The recent accident cases have found use of mobile phones to be a cause. Even Transport minister Nitin Gadkari agreed that how using the phone and taking selfies was a risk. The decision given by the court seems a good way to pull the plug on those who are violating. Let us hope people do stop using their phones while driving and it creates a desired change.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2018 11:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).