Ambulance driver arrested for using vehicle as cab during peak traffic hours

Bengaluru: An ambulance driver was arrested by the police for allegedly using his ambulance as a cab to ferry office-goers during peak traffic hours.

The accused is identified as Bala.

It is gathered that the incident came to light after one unsuspecting motorist, Rana Patel, had given way to the ambulance on March 27. He later noticed that there were many passengers inside the ambulance dressed as if they were going to work. Following which Rana detailed his experience on the Bengaluru City Police Facebook page and also posted photos and videos of the ambulance passing near Agrahara Layout in Yelahanka.

Replying to Rana’s post-Bengaluru Traffic Police officials said’ “We are already creating awareness & also booking more… cases regularly against such violators and will strictly enforce it in the future. [We] have informed the sector traffic officer to check and take necessary action.”

Following the incident, Bala’s driving license has been suspended and he has been slapped with a fine of Rs 600.

After the incident close to a 1,000 ambulances operate in Bengaluru, and traffic police officials have been instructed to monitor activities during non-emergency situations.

However, this is not the first such incident, according to police. They have previously cancelled licenses of other drivers who have misused ambulances for non-emergency purposes.