A few days back, I was reading an article written by Praveen Sood, The Traffic Commissioner of Bangalore. He wrote some pretty valid points about the traffic situation in Bangalore or for that matter anywhere in India. Most of us would agree that driving is a pain in this country. The single biggest problem with traffic is not traffic jams but lack of discipline in driving. And, the most valid observation he made is that each of one expects the auto, the bus, the pedestrian, the 3 wheeler, the trucks, the roads, the potholes to improve except his/ her own self. This is the root cause of all problems. And, how many traffic policemen can be deputed to catch people who jump signals, overtake from the left, speed, drive under the influence of alcohol, drive on the wrong side of the road, drive recklessly, enter into one ways, take unauthorized U-turns and so many others. No police force in the world should be expected to make adults follow rules. This is correct. In a civilized society, it is only imperative that proper rules must be followed for things to function normally. But are they especially when related to traffic? No!
These same rule breakers, when living in the US or Europe, would be the perfect, law-abiding citizens following all traffic rules to the T. So, where is the problem? It is in the Indian attitude. Whether it is spitting on the roads, throwing garbage on streets, jumping queues, or breaking traffic rules — it is always someone else’s fault. If we want our traffic situation to improve, then the onus is on us, start following the rules no matter what the other person does. Someone else’s wrong behavior does not justify your own. If you do not, you just do not respect your own country or its citizens.
P.S. My other rants on traffic are as follows
Auto rickshaw menace https://www.rachnaparmar.com/2010/07/auto-rickshaw-menace.html
Driving troubles in India https://www.rachnaparmar.com/2010/03/driving-troubles-in-india.html
very true, rather than blaming others, lets correct ourselves us first
Don’t get me started on the traffic! I have to drive to work every day and the WORST offenders are the bus drivers. GOVERNMENT bus drivers. They think traffic signals are for other people. They simply sail through all red lights. And if there is an alert cop, and they have to stop, it will invariably be at extreme left when they have to go extreme right-thereby totally blocking the left that YOU want to take! Grrrrh!!!
The problem is single.An absolute lack of civic sense.We spit pan on to roads,pee at the roadside,and drive as if the road is our own.Those who make laws,break them.And there are no ways to punish the offenders.
@bbsearchingself Yes.
@Deepa Yes, bus drivers are really horrible. Here they hardly stop at their designated bus stops and then too sticking out their butts making it impossible for others to pass through. They also would just move right all of a sudden almost knocking you off. Private buses are also bad.
@dr. antony Yeah, so many problems really and hardly any solutions in sight.
Agree, everyone should take the responsibility to improve the situation. It’s all our attitude making the difference when we are in Europe or India.
We should have some stringent regulation in force on erring drivers. As the number of vehicles on the road growing everyday, we should bring advanced systems to track the offenders to bring them under control.
Thanks for bringing up this topic…well written.
I agree with you Rachna but I ran of this this fight. Seriously, I gave up. I love cars but I hate traffic. So I got a way of moving to close the college and find a job near it so I do not have to dislocate a lot through the city. Nowadays I hardly use car. Caught bus or subway. I wish all my friends too could do something like that, I mean, no longer had to use cars, only subway or bus!
But I agree, many drivers are not polite people!
More often than not, law abiding drivers bear the brunt of those breaking it! It is so very annoying. If only each one done his bit.
Not only in Bangalore, in every city in India this is the situation, everyone blames the other vehicle for not following the rules tactically forgetting his/her responsibility..
thankfully we dont get such problems here, the ones we get here are different ..
and as u suggested high time to do something ourself .. we all know how our countries beaurecrats work…
and someone in comments mentioned bus drivers he hehehe here also its a bus driver who is wort offender they will have the indicator on saying they are pulling off when they have jsut stopped and people are still getting down the bus..
and the people who abide by law are the ones who suffe the most
Bikram’s
very true said
Hum Nahi Sudrenge
@Jarlin Thanks so much for your visit here and for your insightful comment. Stricter laws and enforcement is a solution. Yet, everything and everyone cannot be monitored. The aim should be to make people aware that following the rules is for their own benefit.
@david I hate traffic too, but I drive everyday. I think driving is something everyone must do. It gives you a sense of independence. But, you are lucky that you can avoid your blood pressure from shooting up every single day :).
@Destiny’s child Very correctly said. We end up facing the brunt of unruly drivers.
@Bikram Funny about the bus driver. And, you are lucky with systematic traffic in the UK.
@sm I hope ki sudhar jaaye chaye der se hi sahi.
Rachna Wow, you made me remember when I got my driver’s license and the sense of freedom that started in the first months of driving. I remember that wonderful feeling when I stepped on the accelerator and the car went, gliding, seemed about to fly. Happy days indeed 😀
But then came the traffic lights, traffic, gas prices increasing, drivers who got their qualifications by courier ( yeah, they are among us ) and I went crazy. Yelled at everyone, blowing horns and various things. I thought someday I would kill someone. That was when I gave up 🙁
@david Yeah, amazing feeling to be behind the wheel! I lived for a couple of years in the US, and driving there was such pleasure. Ah, I still remember those days fondly :). You are right, in our countries, it is a pain. I would also prefer public transport if it was in a better shape. Let’s hope that once the metro rolls into Bangalore, at least driving long distances and cursing in the traffic snarls within Bangalore could be avoided.
international problem
@Ramesh Is it? I thought most western countries including the Gulf ones did not face this problem.