I think there have been quite a few posts written on it but I seriously feel strongly about a need to drive some sense into the drivers. Some things I would like to tell the drivers here:
The above were just few of the issues on the road here. The police are also mute spectators. I understand regulating traffic amongst drivers who follow no driving sense is in itself a pain, but there needs to be more attention paid to it.
One idea I have been toying around is a way to reward traffic policeman for every violator they catch. Here is one suggestion:
Yes, I understand there can be corruption here too. However, I would say out of the total force of traffic police at least 50% don't want to take bribes. This initiative can help theis group of 50% policemen and can ensure that at least some semblance of sanity can rule on the Bangalore roads.
Similarly, I also know drivers who want to follow lane discipline but get frustrated in the unruly traffic and become part of the problem. I have followed lane discipline, sat behind buses for a while, changed lanes with blinkers on etc. Yes, people will say I am too americanised. May be so, but if I want that roads become better and if I want to talk about it, I have to follow all the rules of the road first.
This is not a criticism of every single driver of Bangalore but to people who break rules precisely because they know they can get away with it.
- Making a right turn does not mean you come into the right lane (blocking oncoming traffic) to make a turn
- When it says "No Free Left turn", it precisely means that. When the light is red, you CANNOT make a left turn. Please do not expect the guy in front of you to move if the light is red no matter how much you honk.
- When there is a traffic jam, no amount of honking will get you out of it
- Please be considerate to pedestrians and don't stop you car 1 feet from the pedestrians feet, as if you are the king of the road
- If you pass a car/truck/bus etc on the left, once in a while please expect to get hit as well
- Just because the lane for oncoming traffic is empty does not mean you start driving in that lane
- When making a right turn at light, there is only lane to turn right. Don't make 3 right turn lanes and block people who want to go straight
The above were just few of the issues on the road here. The police are also mute spectators. I understand regulating traffic amongst drivers who follow no driving sense is in itself a pain, but there needs to be more attention paid to it.
One idea I have been toying around is a way to reward traffic policeman for every violator they catch. Here is one suggestion:
- Have traffic police use blackberrys or write tickets on their pads
- The driver has to go to the court to pay the fine and get a clearance certificate from the court with his sign on it (people hate courts so this will be a deterrent)
- The traffic police gets 15% of the fine added to his monthly pay cheque
- Regular traffic patrols to ensure traffic policemen/women are not taking bribes and not issuing tickets to the offenders
Yes, I understand there can be corruption here too. However, I would say out of the total force of traffic police at least 50% don't want to take bribes. This initiative can help theis group of 50% policemen and can ensure that at least some semblance of sanity can rule on the Bangalore roads.
Similarly, I also know drivers who want to follow lane discipline but get frustrated in the unruly traffic and become part of the problem. I have followed lane discipline, sat behind buses for a while, changed lanes with blinkers on etc. Yes, people will say I am too americanised. May be so, but if I want that roads become better and if I want to talk about it, I have to follow all the rules of the road first.
This is not a criticism of every single driver of Bangalore but to people who break rules precisely because they know they can get away with it.
Comments
everything bolis down to discipline both in drivers and the cops.