The Delhi-NCR taxi drivers have fallen for bizarre fake news that they need to carry condoms in the taxi’s first aid kit to avoid traffic fine. They have been mandatorily carrying condoms in their cabs to avoid challans. They are convinced that if they do not carry condoms in their taxis they are likely to be fined, but clearly, they have no idea about which government rule stipulates this.
This ludicrous hearsay gained traction after a cab driver named Dharmendra claimed to have been fined for not keeping a condom in his cab.
Though Dharmendra had been fined for over-speeding he claimed that he was fined by the traffic police because he did not have a condom in his first-aid kit. His challan receipt, however, cited over-speeding as the reason for the fine.
This misinformation which gradually circulated amongst the taxi drivers made them believe that keeping condoms are mandatory to avoid challans.
Delhi Sarvodaya Driver Association president Kamaljeet Gill, said, “All public vehicles are required to carry at least three condoms at all times.” Gill gave an odd explanation for assuming that keeping condoms in the first aid kit is mandatory. He said that those condoms could be used to stop bleeding or to treat a wound. “If any person has a fracture, a condom can be tied at the spot till the person reaches the hospital,” Kamaljeet said.
Meanwhile, a taxi driver named Ramesh said, “I have heard that it is necessary to keep condoms, so I always keep at least one.” He said, “Till date, traffic policemen have not asked me regarding this. However, many times during fitness tests, the cab drivers have been asked whether they have condoms in the car or not.”
Traffic police confirmed that there is no such rule in the Motor Vehicle Act which directs drivers to keep condoms in their cars and added that no such bizarre investigations are done either during fitness tests as claimed by Ramesh. “However, NGO workers reach out to drivers outside the centre to educate them about safe sex. It is possible that drivers have developed the habit of keeping condoms from there,” said the traffic police, furthering that cab drivers should contact the authorities if they are fined for not keeping the condom.