Traffic police officers are often feared by violators across India. However, in Bengaluru, they are facing a unique challenge: Google Maps is now being used to alert violators of potential checkpoints. Anonymous users have taken to marking locations where traffic police frequently stop vehicles, effectively creating a system of early warnings for drivers.
The trend was first noticed on social media, where users shared screenshots of these Google Maps markers, often accompanied by humorous captions like “Police irthare, Nodkond hogi,” which translates to “Police will be there, watch and go.” One user even advised others to search “Police irt” on Google Maps to find these markers.
With over ten such locations marked across Bengaluru, violators traveling on these routes can now see the potential for a police checkpoint ahead, potentially saving them from a fine. This has been dubbed a “citizen-developed early disaster warning system” by some users.
The trend has even extended to landmarks, with some locations tagged with humorous warnings like “Helmet hakond banni, police irthare,” meaning “Please wear your helmet, police will be here.”
One user drew a parallel to a similar system used by Uber drivers in New York City, highlighting the ingenuity of local residents in leveraging technology for their benefit.
So far, neither the Bengaluru traffic police nor Google has responded to this development, leaving the effectiveness of this citizen-driven workaround up for debate. It remains to be seen how the traffic police will address this unique challenge and whether Google will take any action to remove the markers.
