Yo Chennai traffic!!

Before I began to write this article, I decided to have a first-hand experience on the Roads of Chennai. My first shot was a two-wheeler ride. However sensible one tries to be, the ‘trend’ on the road has to be followed!

This not being enough, I ventured to seek more enlightenment. I journeyed in a city bus. There is no distinction between young or old, literate or illiterate, male or female, everybody gets in through the exit and gets off through the entrance! Even if the bus is not full, there should be foot board travelers. The buses stop where the drivers fancy and the frustrated conductors practice rampant verbal abuse on passengers!  

My escapades in a car were even more eventful. With two wheelers, autos and cyclists darting towards the car, I was at my wits end and gave up pretty soon. 

Present day road users follow rules framed by the citizens and not the rulers! Here are some popular rules.

• Even if you don’t have the green signal to proceed, if no vehicles are intersecting your path, you can ignore the red and move ahead.
• Show all your energy and dynamism at traffic signals. Start moving even before the amber turns green. Remember you are on your way to defuse a bomb or perform an emergency surgery or on a high alert task! (I would like to ask them why they don’t hurry while crowding around a consumer durable shop to watch a sensational cricket match).
• Ambulance? Don’t bother. They will find their way.
• Lane discipline. What’s that? Some kind of extinct species? Or a movie title? Or a brand?? God knows what! Especially in a country where most roads do not have proper lane demarcation.
• Survival of the fastest. Whoever moves fast should be permitted to do so. If you compete, it is at your own risk. Bikes, buses, school vans, the competition is open to all!
• Get into everybody’s way and cause nuisance. If you map the trail of a bike, it would be marvelous to note that on a straight road, bike riders ride like they do on a mountain road!
• If there is space in between two vehicles, PACK! This rule applies for stationary and moving vehicles. Whether you are at a signal or moving on a busy road, overtake and cover spaces even if you are not supposed to be using that lane.
• Overtake. Doesn't matter whether it is left or right. Just do it.
• Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses can stop anywhere, obstructing the traffic. They are beyond signals. They can move if the path is clear. Size matters – they are the big bullies.
• According to College, school and chartered buses – only they exist.
• Auto and share-auto drivers can see only prospective passengers. Others on the road should take care not to be hit by them.
• Jump signals, whatever you ride or drive!
• Be known to some Minister, MLA, senior Police Official or anybody influential. You needn’t know the road rules!!
• However high the median may be – climb over. Never use the subway or pedestrian.
• Who said driving on the wrong side is illegal?!
• Two wheelers can carry any number of people.

Almost all of us would be experiencing these on the roads every day. Wherever we may live or work, roads are like arteries that carry us through our work, life, recreation, vacation et al. Since it connects us to all nodes in life we should know how to use the roads. Know to use the roads? What does one need to use the roads? Everything that one needs to live in a society; Knowledge, comprehension, empathy, patience, compassion, discipline and the list grows on.

We would agree to the fact that as road users, we are becoming uncivilized by the day. We diligently break all rules, cause chaos, practice rank indiscipline; road users do not express mental health and hygiene... No. Don’t point the finger at others. We are all to blame. We all have a responsible role in this social issue. Before we set out to do this, we should realize that it is not the sole responsibility of the Government, Police or any other governing body, but it is very much OUR responsibility.  So, let us shut the door which leads to the blame room.

News on traffic snarls, bad roads, road indiscipline, tend to take a negative stand. For a change, let us try taking the positive route.  Let us not talk about the erring pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, car, van, bus and lorry drivers. Let us make problem statements and concentrate on how to overcome the problem.

It is cumbersome task. But if we put our minds together and think, we will realize that there is so much that we can do as individuals.  The ‘I don’t care’ attitude nurtures the problem by the day. Here are some starters,

• Sincerely practice road rules, follow lanes and motivate people around us to do so...
• Conduct awareness and sensitizing programs for employees working in our organization...
• Catch them young – the school and college children teach them to use roads responsibly...
• Conduct widespread awareness programs for auto, van and taxi drivers...
•  Create short films on how each one of us can play a role to civilized road usage and telecast them periodically...
• Sensitize bus drivers and conductors on road discipline...
• Inculcate good social behavior...

If we believe in ourselves, we can make it happen.