Bengaluru’s auto, cab drivers’ screen addiction raise alarm over road safety

Commuters in Bengaluru are raising concern over the increasing instances of autorickshaw and cab drivers using their mobile phones to watch videos, movies, or even reels while ferrying passengers. Such a risky way of driving has triggered widespread concern over the safety of commuters and other motorists sharing the road.

Passengers said that many drivers were seen operating their vehicles and using their mobile phones simultaneously, with their concentration getting distracted between the road and the screen. In several instances, drivers are found playing YouTube videos or reels, while a small portion of the screen displays Google Maps for navigation, they said.

“When passengers question them, they quickly switch to maps and claim they are using it only for directions,” said Jairaj M., a regular commuter from Peenya. “I have had multiple experiences where drivers were watching videos while driving. Some were scrolling through reels or YouTube. When I told them it was unsafe, they opened maps and said they were using it for navigation. It feels very unsafe sitting behind someone who is barely looking at the road,” he added.

The concern is not limited to auto and cab passengers. Even those using bike taxis have raised alarms. Shailesh Kumar, a frequent bike taxi user from Whitefield, recalled a recent incident: “A few days ago, my bike taxi rider was watching YouTube while riding. He kept applying sudden brakes and even shouted at other bikers. It was terrifying. This is a very dangerous trend. The police must book strict cases against such people. They are putting not only their passengers’ lives at risk, but also of others on the road. Authorities should control this before it becomes worse.”

Rajesh K., who travels daily from Koramangala to Outer Ring Road, added: the trend seems to be spreading fast. “Drivers now open multi-window screens half video, half map. My cab drivers wouldn’t even listen when I asked him to stop. I complained to the aggregator, but nothing happened. Earlier, this was seen more among auto drivers, but now even cab drivers are doing it. I see everyday autos, cabs, and even a few non taxi car drivers using phones while driving. Listening to music or podcasts is fine, but actively watching videos while driving? That’s an open invitation for disaster. This is becoming an epidemic.”

Acknowledging the growing problem, Bengaluru Traffic Police officials said that they are conducting special drives to penalise offenders. “Earlier, drivers used phones for calls or navigation. But now, we find many people watching movies or live streams even while driving passengers. This is extremely dangerous. We have been booking cases through special enforcement drives and penalising them,” an official said.

According to police data, 34,303 cases were registered between January and September 2025 against motorists for using mobile phones while driving.

Drivers’ union urges restraint

The Auto Rickshaw Drivers Union (ARDU) has acknowledged the problem, but urged the public not to generalise. T.M. Rudramurthy, general secretary of the ARDU in Bengaluru, said, “We are aware that a few drivers are misusing mobile phones while on duty, but it is wrong to label all drivers as irresponsible. Many of us rely on apps for bookings and maps for navigation. Still, we are creating awareness in our groups about the risks of distracted driving. We constantly advise members not to use phones for entertainment when passengers are on board.”

None of the aggregators responded to mails seeking a response.

Stronger enforcement needed

Transport expert M.N. Srihari said that despite existing penalties, weak enforcement has allowed the trend to grow. “Watching videos while driving is not just irresponsible, it’s a form of deliberate negligence that endangers lives. The authorities must treat this as seriously as drunken driving,” he said.

He recommended that the police conduct random checks on autos and cabs to verify phone usage patterns. “Officers can easily inspect the currently running apps or recent call logs to determine whether a driver is using navigation or entertainment apps. Once caught, licences 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 passengers should use it to flag such violations. The more complaints authorities receive, the stronger the enforcement will become,” he added.