Commuters in Bengaluru are worried about the increasing number of autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers using their mobile phones to watch videos, movies or even reels while ferrying passengers. Such risky driving has raised widespread concerns about the safety of commuters and other motorists sharing the road.
Passengers reported that many drivers were seen driving their vehicles and using their mobile phones at the same time, with their concentration distracted between the road and the screen. In several cases, drivers were found playing YouTube videos or reels while a small portion of the screen displayed Google Maps for navigation, they said.
“When passengers ask them, they quickly switch to maps and claim that they only use them for navigation,” said Jairaj M., a regular commuter from Peenya. “I’ve had several experiences where drivers have been watching videos while driving. Some have been scrolling through reels or YouTube. When I told them it wasn’t safe, they opened the maps and said they were using it to navigate. It’s very dangerous to sit behind someone who can barely look at the road,” he added.
Interest is not limited to car and cabin passengers. Even those who use cycle taxis have raised the alarm. Shailesh Kumar, a frequent cycle taxi user from Whitefield, recalled a recent incident: “A few days ago, my cyclist was watching YouTube while riding. He kept braking hard and even shouted at other bikers. It was scary. This is a very dangerous trend. The police must book strict cases against such people. They are not only endangering the lives of their passengers but also others before it happens on the road.”
Rajesh K., who commutes daily from Koramangala on Outer Ring Road, added: The trend seems to be spreading fast. “Drivers now open multi-window screens, half video, half map. My taxi drivers didn’t even listen when I asked him to stop. I complained to the aggregator, but nothing happened. It used to be seen more often among car drivers, but now taxi drivers do it too. I see everyday cars, taxis and even a few non-taxi drivers watching music while driving, but that’s okay? open the call for disaster becomes an epidemic.”
Acknowledging the growing problem, Bengaluru Traffic Police officials said they are conducting special drives to punish offenders. “Earlier drivers used phones to make calls or navigation. But now we find many people watching movies or live streaming even while carrying passengers. This is extremely dangerous. We have booked cases through special enforcement drives and punished them,” the official said.
According to police data, 34,303 cases were registered against motorists for using mobile phones while driving from January to September 2025.
A dangerous distraction
Auto and taxi drivers in Bengaluru are increasingly watching videos while driving
Drivers watch YouTube, movies and movies during their journeys
Some use split screens – Google Maps in the corner, videos playing next door
Many drivers dismiss concerns by saying they’re “just using maps”
34,303 cases booked (January-September 2025) for using mobile phones while driving
The drivers’ unions urge restraint
The Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU) acknowledged the issue but urged the public not to generalise. TM Rudramurthy, General Secretary of ARDU, Bengaluru, said: “We are aware that a few drivers misuse mobile phones on duty, but it is wrong to label all drivers as irresponsible. Many of us rely on booking apps and maps for navigation. Yet we create awareness in our groups about the dangers of distracted driving. We constantly advise members not to use phones on board.”
None of the aggregators responded to emails requesting a response.
Stronger enforcement is needed
Traffic expert MN Srihari said despite existing penalties, lax enforcement allowed the trend to grow. “Watching videos while driving is not just irresponsible, it’s a form of conscious negligence that puts lives at risk. The authorities need to take it as seriously as drink driving,” he said.
He recommended that the police carry out random checks of cars and taxis to check patterns of phone use. “Police officers can easily check currently running apps or recent call records to see if a driver is using navigation or entertainment apps. Once caught, licenses should be suspended immediately,” he said.
Mr. Srihari further said that people must report such incidents through social media platforms or directly to the traffic police. “Bengaluru has a responsive digital complaint system that passengers should use to flag such violations. The more complaints the authorities receive, the stronger the enforcement will be,” he added.
Published – 07 Nov 2025 01:06 IST
