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Mannequins pose for police in street - 8th January 2020

In Bangalore, India, the police are getting help from dummies. They're mannequins dressed in traffic police uniforms. They wear the same hat, white shirt, bright orange vest and police badge.

The dummy police officers are placed at major road junctions. It's hoped that drivers will see them and follow the traffic rules. But why do the police need mannequins?

There are over 44,000 road junctions in Bangalore. Only 450 have proper traffic lights so police manage most junctions. But some are not controlled because there are not enough police officers.

In 2019, there were over 50,000 reports of reckless driving and 57,000 reports of drink driving.

But will these mannequins help to end the problem? Local people gave mixed reactions.

Man 1: "It's general human mentality when you see a policeman- you have the fear in your heart, 'Oh, I am doing something wrong, I will not do it.' "

Man 2: "We do not, do not follow rules even if they [police] are real. Then, how could it work when they are not even moving and running after us?"