An elderly woman in Kozhikode has won widespread praise after confronting a scooter rider who allegedly drove along a pedestrian footpath to avoid traffic congestion.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at the busy M.G. Road–Mananchira junction near Eranhipalam. With a traffic signal causing a long queue of buses, lorries and other vehicles, the rider reportedly mounted the footpath in an attempt to bypass the gridlock.
An elderly woman bravely stopped a scooter rider who illegally used a footpath traffic at the MG Road–Mananchira junction. Praised by Kerala Transport Ministerand the Kerala MVD, her action highlights the importance of protecting pedestrian rights and enforcing road discipline. pic.twitter.com/QmrwnAFTIZ
— unni k nair (@unni_k791) February 13, 2026
The woman, identified as Prabhavathi Amma, was walking along the same stretch when she noticed the scooter approaching at speed from the opposite direction. She stepped forward and blocked the rider’s path, firmly asking him to return to the main road.
Despite repeated requests from the rider to give way, she refused to move aside. When he persisted, she took out her smartphone and began recording, also photographing the scooter’s number plate. She warned that she would file a formal complaint for illegally riding on the footpath. Faced with no alternative, the rider reversed the scooter and rejoined the line of vehicles on the road.
The video of the confrontation quickly went viral on social media.
MVD Shares Video; Minister Applauds Civic Action
The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) shared the video on its official Facebook page, commending the woman’s intervention and appealing to the public for further information about her.
Kerala Transport Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar later spoke with Prabhavathi Amma through the media, praising her courage and describing her action as exemplary.
He stated that such civic interventions are vital to maintaining road discipline and protecting pedestrian rights.
Conversation with the Minister
During her interaction with the Minister, Prabhavathi Amma voiced concerns about pedestrian safety.
“Patients and children use the footpath. Many riders behave with complete disregard for safety. Even the tiles on the footpath are loose. We need a permanent solution against such violations,” she said.
In response, the Minister pointed out that a mobile application is available through which citizens can upload images of traffic violations, enabling authorities to impose fines. However, Prabhavathi Amma raised a pointed question: whether such measures would lead to meaningful enforcement or merely increase government revenue.
Reinforcing Pedestrian Rights
Minister Ganesh Kumar reiterated that footpaths are meant exclusively for pedestrians and emphasised the importance of public awareness and participation in enforcing traffic discipline.
He added that only through active civic engagement can authorities effectively curb traffic violations and ensure safer urban spaces.
The incident has since sparked a broader discussion online about pedestrian rights, road safety enforcement, and the role of citizens in upholding the rule of law.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.