A beautiful Sunday morning, the overhead sun delightfully bright and the warmth making you lethargic as you're cruising towards what promises to be a sumptuous brunch with the works and perks. Pop goes the thought, courtesy of the blaring horn of presumably a German luxury sedan that is prima facie a white blur as it dashes past. Further down the road, the maniac continues to announce his arrival at the exposed behind of every car in his path.
A drive through the streets of Delhi is a wholesome exhibition of jaw dropping human insanity as far as mannerisms behind the wheel are concerned. From the point of view of a law abiding citizen, fictitious as it may sound, it comes down to a test of his reflexes, patience, composure, focus and ability to overcome a flurry of emotions he experiences en route to his destination.
We often encounter traits typical of the lackadaisically fearless Indian on road, be it his attitude of 'never to settle for second place' or 'my way is the right way.' Amidst the crawling motorists it is fascinating how he drives on undeterred, weaving his way through traffic, allured by the ubiquitous voids that break the pattern of the jam. Two wheelers on the other hand are a step ahead as far as bravery goes. The helmet for instance, apparently rests better by the side of the bike than on the rider's head. They have eyes for the isles, the most desirable being the one that leads up to the stop line.
Bus, truck and other commercial vehicles are equipped with drivers that are handpicked to endanger the lives of the passengers on board and around. They often muscle their way through, unperturbed by oncoming traffic, rather than being overcautious considering the extent of damage even a slight impact may cause others.
The last decade has seen an influx of call center cabs that take the cake as far as road casualties are concerned. Speeding at will and swerving through highway traffic, they personify irresponsibility, risking the lives of young professionals on board as well as surrounding motorists.
Delhi/ NCR roads have gone through quite a makeover with the construction of countless flyovers and interstate highways. These promote high speeds, a sense of complacency and negligence making them most vulnerable to accidents. Moreover, the average Indian lacks the maturity required to drive responsibly on highways.
Drastic measures must be taken to control the situation on roads and improve driving experience.
A few possible suggestions:
1. Action At Source: Strict assessment for issuance of driving licenses need to be standardised.
2. Radars and cameras to be installed and more importantly regularly maintained.
3. Process of imposing fines to be monitored.(Imperative to curtail corruption at this point)
4. Black points to licensees on being fined.(License suspension on 3 Black Points)
5. Incentives(salary hike, perks, insurance etc.) for traffic policemen to increase numbers.
6. Promoting road safety to raise public awareness.(Road Shows, Driving Schools, Interactive Events etc.)
The planning and quality of roads is also highly questionable when it comes to the traffic situation, but that is a completely different subject which needs to be looked at in more detail, from the intent of the minister handling the portfolio to the skill of the contractors and engineers laying the roads. It all comes down to how effectively and honestly the taxpayer's money is put to use.
Nevertheless, it's non stop action on the streets of the capital with everything from cars to cows constantly vying for that overrated right most lane.
Drive Safe.
A drive through the streets of Delhi is a wholesome exhibition of jaw dropping human insanity as far as mannerisms behind the wheel are concerned. From the point of view of a law abiding citizen, fictitious as it may sound, it comes down to a test of his reflexes, patience, composure, focus and ability to overcome a flurry of emotions he experiences en route to his destination.
We often encounter traits typical of the lackadaisically fearless Indian on road, be it his attitude of 'never to settle for second place' or 'my way is the right way.' Amidst the crawling motorists it is fascinating how he drives on undeterred, weaving his way through traffic, allured by the ubiquitous voids that break the pattern of the jam. Two wheelers on the other hand are a step ahead as far as bravery goes. The helmet for instance, apparently rests better by the side of the bike than on the rider's head. They have eyes for the isles, the most desirable being the one that leads up to the stop line.
Bus, truck and other commercial vehicles are equipped with drivers that are handpicked to endanger the lives of the passengers on board and around. They often muscle their way through, unperturbed by oncoming traffic, rather than being overcautious considering the extent of damage even a slight impact may cause others.
The last decade has seen an influx of call center cabs that take the cake as far as road casualties are concerned. Speeding at will and swerving through highway traffic, they personify irresponsibility, risking the lives of young professionals on board as well as surrounding motorists.
Delhi/ NCR roads have gone through quite a makeover with the construction of countless flyovers and interstate highways. These promote high speeds, a sense of complacency and negligence making them most vulnerable to accidents. Moreover, the average Indian lacks the maturity required to drive responsibly on highways.
Drastic measures must be taken to control the situation on roads and improve driving experience.
A few possible suggestions:
1. Action At Source: Strict assessment for issuance of driving licenses need to be standardised.
2. Radars and cameras to be installed and more importantly regularly maintained.
3. Process of imposing fines to be monitored.(Imperative to curtail corruption at this point)
4. Black points to licensees on being fined.(License suspension on 3 Black Points)
5. Incentives(salary hike, perks, insurance etc.) for traffic policemen to increase numbers.
6. Promoting road safety to raise public awareness.(Road Shows, Driving Schools, Interactive Events etc.)
The planning and quality of roads is also highly questionable when it comes to the traffic situation, but that is a completely different subject which needs to be looked at in more detail, from the intent of the minister handling the portfolio to the skill of the contractors and engineers laying the roads. It all comes down to how effectively and honestly the taxpayer's money is put to use.
Nevertheless, it's non stop action on the streets of the capital with everything from cars to cows constantly vying for that overrated right most lane.
Drive Safe.
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