Hi friends
At last I have decided to throw my money out to have my own site. If you want to go to the blog straight away here is the link. Of course I have a forum also where I hope you will park to discuss traffic and other issues.
See you all there:-)
It is not an unusual sight to see women riders/drivers on roads of our Chennai as well as the mistakes and rule breaking by them. Apart from their behaving 'equally' bad it is their speed which surprises me. I and many other riders suffer from back pain because of our roads which exist in between pot holes. Will not the women mostly in their early twenties suffer the same? Will it not affect their health during their pregnancy?
It is not new. It is not a brain wave. It is once in a while announcement by the traffic police. Three deaths of elderly people aged 60 & 73 on the same day made them announce once again that foot bridge is being contemplated to help pedestrians cross over and thus hope to reduce the accidents. But did they consider the following:
1. Can the elderly climb the stairs?
2. Are the existing foot bridges being used and if not why so?
3. Are there enough space on both sides of the road to build a foot bridge?
4. Will the foot bridge solve the problems of no foot path or unusable foot path, if they exist?
5. What is there to stop our tankers, buses and lorries crashing against the foot bridges?
6. Will the foot bridges facilitate the flow of non-crossing pedestrians by having spaces to walk around them?
7. If the answer is negative to 6 then will not the pedestrians walk on the road which is the perennial problem?
As it has been already mentioned in some other post the problem to be tackled is haphazard parking which not only reduces the width of already narrow roads but also force the pedestrians to walk in the middle of the road.
Then where will they park? They should have enough parking lots. The parking fee should be small and the fine for parking in no parking zone heavy. The roads are public property. That does not mean we can use them for our private use, be it parking or urinating. Maybe the people who park their vehicles on roads, whether it is in front of their homes/flats or elsewhere should be treated as encroachers of public land.
Pic. 1 - Neither of them wearing helmet but both of them with headphones!
Pic. 2 - Not wearing helmet but has this on his number plate 'if you dare catch me'!
Pic. 3 - Nice slogan for our roads I feel(give me strength is what it means-for those who can't read tamil)
These two slogans remind me that I should also put one on my bike which I am postponing for a long time. The slogan is 'If you can't be on time, be early'.
What will be your choice. Please let me know.
Pic. 1 - Safety for head No safety for Lungs
Pic. 2 - Helmet covering number plate instead of head!
Pic. 3 - Vehicle with blank number plate. I saw another vehicle also of the same make with blank number plate but with party flag!
Pic. 4 - Picture says everything about helmet & law!
மத்தவங்க கஷ்டப் படுவாங்களேன்னு கொஞ்சம் கூட கவலை படாம வண்டி ஓட்டரவங்கள என்னன்னு சொல்றது? எருமை மாட்டுக்கு இருக்கற புத்தி கூட இல்லையோன்னு சில சமயம் தோணும் ஹார்ன் அடிச்சா நகராதவங்கள பாக்கும்போது.
எங்கப்பா எனக்கு குடுத்த அட்வைஸ் "ரோட்ல உன்ன தவிர மத்தவங்கல்லாம் பைத்தியம்னு நெனச்சுக்கோ". என்னோட எக்ஸ்பீரியன்ஸ்ல வெறும் பைத்தியம் கெடையாது "கண்ணு தெரியாத, குடிச்சிட்டு ஓட்டற பைத்தியங்க" நீங்க என்ன சொல்றீங்க?
Some move their vehicles not waiting for signal to change while some even go through the oncoming traffic - all to save seconds forgetting there is no second life! Rising at idling speed or rising with brake on in the case of gear less vehicle is what many do either due to ignorance, habit or engine problem. This not only increases the pollution but also eats(drinks) up the precious black diamond, petrol. Maintain your vehicle and save yourself, others from pollution and the world from oil crisis! Camaraderie without concern about other motorists on road is another problem seen frequently.
The tn government has once again said that it is going to do some thing about traffic problems, accidents, etc. And once again has announced that it will tame our auto drivers! Some weeks back it was also announced that a website is going to be launched by chennai traffic police. If my memory is right they had launched twice already, once in 1998 and once recently in 2004. Both have expired and I hope the new website doesn't get the same treatment.
But in my opinion drastic measures are needed to control our erring motorist than announcements. They are
1. All stop lines at the signals should have spikes springing up on red light and retract on green light. A war like measure as our roads resemble war zones.
2. All one way streets should have spikes bent towards the wrong side and depressible so that vehicles from right side can easily go over.
3. Cars with single occupants should be fined heavily to encourage car pooling.
4. Empty autos should not be allowed to cruise around looking for gullible victims aka passengers.
5. Erring motorists should not be fined. Their families should be made to come to the station and give a written declaration that it will not happen again.
6. Rash drivers should be directed to do service atleast for one day in the trauma department of any hospital.
7. People who get into accident because of their own fault should not get any compensation.
8. The contractors who lay the road should get their payment only if a citizens' committee approves of their work.
9. Cable, EB, Sewerage digging work should commence and finish overnight.
10. The garbage cleaning should commence and finish overnight.
11. All the places other than those marked for parking should be made No Parking areas even if it is in front of our own houses/flats. Those who don't have the power to increase the width of the road don't have the right to decrease it.
Hi can you think of anything I must have missed:-)
Recently I heard a news and read one. Both are related in a way. Both show how over confident drivers are and how foolish. Some how people seem to have a rebellion towards any law imposed, even if it is for their own good. Maybe a fallout of Satyagraha movement!
The first one narrated by a friend of mine. A couple just 35 days into their marriage riding a bike, gifted by girl's father of course. Both without helmet, of course. Two vans full of youngsters racing on road crossed their path. Head on collision. What else. Both are in the hospital in serious condition.
The second one is that of a elderly couple going in a car. Wife was driving lost control crashed through the centre median and crossed to the other side. What happened next would have been funny if it had happened in a movie. In the impact the door of the car flung open and the couple were thrown out in the path of a lorry. Both dead. If only they had their seat belts on...
Where does the government come in this? How can it monitor our educated illiterates? Common sense seems to be the most uncommon sense on roads.
Maybe the two metro buses are trying to implement the traffic rule 'don't overtake on over-bridges' - of course for others!
The above photo shows the state of stone dividers kept from Kodambakkam bridge to Valluvar Kottam. There is no gap anywhere and if you come from Mahalingapuram you cannot take a right towards Kodambakkam bridge. So people just move the stones without caring for the danger the moved stones pose other motorists. The police should either provide for U-turn somewhere or make the dividers unmovable.
Pic 1. Both husband & wife wearing helmets.
Pic 2. Rider wearing helmet and pillion rider having a helmet.
Pic 3. Both rider & pillion rider on cell phone!
Pic 4. The pillion rider has the helmet on but not the rider!
By the way the autos there don't use meters but are very reasonable. I should say cheap compared to Chennai. Then autos at any other place is cheaper than at Chennai. Still the autos are looked at as underdogs by some here! Anyways after a few days in Secunderabad and Hyderabad I thought I am going overboard with the situation in Chennai. Chennai traffic is faaaar better comparatively.
The above picture taken in front of Charminar, Hyderabad is an accident. The cyclist in the photo was not in the original frame but came in when I clicked. Just zooming through, intersecting oncoming autos and nothing happened except for my heart. Then I found that this is how everyone behaves on road there. You don't have to stop for anyone. You just go and others go around you. But then I saw a fight between a biker and an auto driver because of some brushing while on the way to Secunderabad.
On 8th June I was fortunate to attend the above said meet. I say I am fortunate because I came to know that I am doing a good job! Also many bloggers came to know about this blog and today Metro Plus gave details about the blog too. So after a few months' lull I intend to publish my views on Chennai traffic once again. Ok Ok Ok stop clapping. Now let's get to business.
Some weeks back I was crossing the road and saw two bikes coming fast. I finished crossing and turned to look at the offensive riders. They must have been in a hurry. They didn't notice the speed breaker until the last moment and without slowing down just hit the speed breaker. One with a single rider another with a female pillion rider sitting sideways. Both skewed a little and the riders with their hands held to the handle bar managed to balance. But even I was watching the female jumped, couldn't balance and started sliding behind. Thought that she will recover her balance but she didn't. She slid still further causing the bike to fall on its right. The rider also followed suit and the helmet on the petrol tank fell down. The other biker stopped and helped them to the sidewalk. The girl must have been shaken out of her bones. What a trauma with so many onlookers around.
They must have reached home late, I suppose.
Today I attended a seminar titled Traffic Easy organised by the madras chapters of Soroptimist International. Though I had to move out before the finish I sat through lectures by Dr. Prithika Chary, Senior Consultant Neurologist, Ms. Shobha Iyer, Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group and Dr.Murthy V.A. Bondada of IIT, Chennai. It was an informative and eye-opening session to say the least.
Dr. Prithika Chary talked about the health hazards of traffic congestion and how it is projected to be the no.2 killer in the year 2020 and stressed on walking for a short distance instead of what we do now!
Ms. Shobha Iyer talked of the neglected lot on road, ie., pedestrians and cyclists and hoped for consultation with people of the locality by the authorities before implementing any solution.
But in my opinion Dr. Murthy's lecture had pragmatic solutions and the way to implement them. Here now are some of the points from his lecture.
1. We don't use the same mantras for all functions. We have a different one for marriage, child birth, pooja, etc. The same way for a short distance we can walk, for one or two people to go with little luggage we can use bike or auto and for long distance family trip we can use cars.
2. While long term solutions are implemented the short term solutions also should be taken care of.
3. In Chennai context he gave the following statistics.
28% of the people walk
13% of the people use cycle
29% of the people use bus
18% of the people use bikes/scooters
4% of the people use cars
3% of the people use autos
rest use lorries, trucks, etc.
Those who walk and use cycle are not considered as road space hogger s and also don't contribute to pollution.
Though 29% use buses it is <1% when trips by buses are considered.
18% of the bikes/scooters occupy 75% of the road trips.
4% of the cars occupy 18% of the road trips.
Autos used by 3% of the people make 2% of the road trips.
But most of the road related schemes seem to be having 22% of the vehicle population, ie., bikes/scooters and cars neglecting totally the interests of pedestrians and cyclists.
If only the pedestrians are given proper side walks and cyclists a separate lane most of the congestion and accident related deaths will come down. Actually 40% of the accidents are due to traffic congestion and only 25% due to rule violations, as informed by Dr. Prithika Chary earlier.
I didn't take notes. Otherwise I could have given a much detailed report.
In my search for pages giving importance to our traffic I found a link which deals in detail the reasons for the existing rules. The following is a little appetizer for those who are in search of the same.
Rule: You must drive on the left of the road. “Keep Left” first started in Rome, but the first law on it was made in 1756 in England. In 75 countries, you have to drive on the left, in 167 countries, on the right.Traffic Logic: To avoid collisions, people driving in opposite directions should be on opposite sides of the road.
Rule: Pedestrians must walk on the left of the pavement, whether there is only one pavement, or pavement on both sides of the road. If there is no pavement, they must walk on the right side of the road.
Traffic Logic: Pedestrians can turn or stop faster than a vehicle. They must walk facing oncoming traffic so that they can see when it is necessary to give way to the vehicle by stepping to the side. If there is only one pavement, pedestrians closer to the road must face the traffic, for the same reason. If there is a pavement on both sides, pedestrians walk in the same direction as traffic.
Rule: Overtake only from the right, unless the vehicle in front has signalled an intention to turn right.
Traffic Logic: We drive on the left, and the driver sits on the right. Slow traffic is in the left lane, and fast traffic in the right lane. To overtake, we have to change lanes. Moving to the right, we can see what is in front by moving a little into the other lane. Moving left, we can only see it when most of the vehicle is in the left lane--CRASH. The obstruction caused to other traffic and chances of collision are much less when moving right. Also, there is less speed difference with the slow vehicles on the left.
Overtaking a vehicle that is turning right, from its right, will put the overtaking vehicle in the path of the turning vehicle--CRASH.
Suddenly there was a screeching sound and rubber smell. But no accident. The 150cc biker just averted an accident. An old man on cycle was saved! But on close scrutiny I could see the cause and effect of our peoples' attitude toward 'right turners' and 'road crossers'!I just don't know why the people behave this way. You try to cross a road. You look right, left and again right as required. You spot a vehicle which is at least 100 meters away. You think it is safe. But think again! That vehicle will suddenly pick up speed and cut across your path. You have to jump back. If he had continued with the same speed and path you would have crossed with no trouble and he would have gone his way going behind you. But no. He/She will not let you. Whether you are crossing from the right or left side of the road, 'the vehicle should cross only in front of you and before you cross' seems to be their rule! The rub on the wound is they will be back to their normal speed once they cross you. For a moment imagine that you are in your vehicle. A person is crossing the road from your left 'no need to brake' distance away. Instead of moving to your right as people do normally you can move to your left which will make your path as well as his clear. No need to reduce speed, for both of you. Same tactic for a person crossing from your right. This time you move to your right, that's all. Mind you. I am talking about situation where you have space to move. Not when you are one of the 100 vehicles trying to be the first one at the next signal! Oh! I forgot. It is nearly the same thing when you try to turn in to a street on your right. The old man was trying to turn and the biker wanted to overtake before the old man could do so! Even after that the old man was not allowed to turn. The biker just whizzed past before the cycler could recover. Even after that the old man could not finish turning and had to back up towards the left side of the road as cars, bikes and a bus started piling up. That is the salt added while rubbing!
In my endeavour to educate my readers and admirers(!) about the need to follow road rules I am giving below the not-so-publicised details of penalties you should happily pay in the following circumstances.
1. OFFENCES RELATED TO DOCUMENTS
1.1 Driving without a Valid License - Rs. 500/- and /or imprisonment ( 3 months) 3 r/w 181 MVA
1.2 Allowing vehicle to be driven by a person who does not possess a Valid License. - Rs. 1000/- and/or imprisonment ( 3 months) 5 r/w 180 MVA
1.3 Not carrying documents as required. - Rs. 100/- 130(3) r/w 177 MVA
1.4 Driving without Valid Insurance. - Rs. 1000/- and/or imprisonment ( 3 months) 130 r/w 177 MVA
1.5 Driving without Valid Permit. - Rs. 5000/- ( not less than Rs. 2000/-) 130 r/w 177 MVA
1.6 Driving without Valid Fitness. - Rs. 5000/- ( not less than Rs. 2000/-) 130 r/w 177 MVA
1.7 Vehicle without R.C. - Rs 2000/- 39 r/w192 MVA
Not carrying documents as required - Sec 177 MVA - Rs. 100/-
OFFENCES RELATED TO DRIVING
2.1.1 Driving by Minor . - Rs. 500/- 4 r/w 181 MVA
2.1.2 Allowing Unauthorized person to drive . - Rs. 1000/- 5 r/w 180 MVA
2.1.3 Driving without Helmet. - Rs. 100/- 129 r/w177 MVA
2.1.4 Seat Belts not fastened. - Rs. 100/- 138(3) CMVR 177 MVA
2.1.5 Rough/Rash/Negligent Driving . - Rs. 1000/- 184 MVA
2.1.6 Dangerous or hasty Driving. - Rs.1000/-and/or imprisonment ( 6 months) 112-183 MVA
2.1.7 Not Driving in Proper Lane. - Court Challan 66 r/w 192 MVA
2.1.8 Driving in the center and not to left side. - Rs.100/- 2 RRR r/w 177 MVA
2.1.9 Driving against One Way. - Rs.100/- 17 (i) RRR 177 MVA
2.1.10 Reversing without due care and attention. - Rs. 100/- MMVR 233 177 MVA
2.1.11 Taking “U” turn during outlawed hours. Rs.100/- 12 RRR 177 MVA
2.1.12 Failing to take precaution while taking a “Turn”. Rs.100/- 3 RRR 177 MVA
2.1.13 Failing to decelerate at intersection. Rs.100/- 8 RRR 177 MVA
2.1.14 Failing to carry on left of traffic island. Rs.100/- 2 RRR 177 MVA
2.1.15 Carrying persons on Footboard. Rs.100/- 123-177 MVA
2.1.16 Carrying persons causing hindrance to the driver. Rs.100/- 125-177 MVA
2.1.17 Trippling. Rs. 100/- 128/177 MVA
2.1.18 Driving on Footpath. Rs.100/- RRR 177 MVA
2.1.19 Stopping at pedestrian crossing or crossing a Stop Line. Rs.100/- RRR 177 MVA
Now, don’t let a policeman take more than Rs.100 from you when you unknowingly enter a one way. This too has to be ticketed and handed over to you.
Road Marking Related Offences v2.2.1 Violation of Yellow Line. Rs. 100/- 119/177 MVA
2.2.2 Violation of Stop Line. Rs. 100/- 113(1)/177 DMVR
2.2.3 Violation of Mandatory Signs . Rs. 100/- 119/177 MVA
Number Plate Related Offences
2.3.1 Use of Offensive Number Plate for vehicle used in driving. Rs.100/- CMVR 105 (2) (ii) 177 MVA
2.3.2 Displaying ‘Applied For’. Rs. 4500/- 39/192 MVA
Vehicle Light Related Offences
2.4.1 Improper use of headlights/tail light for vehicle used in driving. Rs.100/- CMVR 105 (2) (ii)177 MVA
2.4.2 Using High Beam where not required. Rs. 100/- 112(G) A DMVR 177 MVA
Horn Related Offences
2.5.1 Driving without Horn. Rs. 100/- 119(1)/177 CMVR
2.5.2 Improper horn usage while driving. Rs.100/- CMVR 105 (2) (ii) 177 MVA
Traffic Police Related Offences
2.6.1 Disobeying Traffic Police Officer in uniform. Rs. 100/- 119 MVA 22(a) RRR 177 MVA
2.6.2 Driving against Police Signal. Rs. 100/- 119 r/w 177 MVA
2.6.3 Disobeying manual Traffic Signal. Rs. 100/- 239 MMVR 22(a) RRR 177 MVA
Traffic Signal Related Offences
2.7.1 Disobeying Traffic signal / Sign Board. Rs. 100/- 22(b) RRR 239 MMVR 177 MVA
2.7.2 Failing to give Signal. Rs. 100/- 121 RRR 177 MVA
2.7.3 Jumping Signal. Rs.100/- 119/177 MVA
Speed and Overtake Related Offences
2.8.1 Exceeding the prescribed Speed Limits. Up to Rs.1000/- 112-183 MVA
2.8.2 Abetment for Over Speeding . Rs.300/- 112/183(2) MVA
2.8.3 Overtaking perilously. Rs.100/- 6 (a) RRR r/w 177 MVA
2.8.4 Failing to confer way to sanction Overtaking. Rs.100/- 7 RRR 177 MVA
2.8.5 Overtaking from Wrong Side . Rs. 100/- RRR 6/1/177 MVA
Other Offences
2.9.1 Disobeying Lawful Directions. Rs. 500/- 132/179 MVA
2.9.2 Driving under influence of Alcohol / Drugs. Rs.2000/- and/or imprisonment ( 6 months) 185 MVA
2.9.3 Using Mobile Phone while Driving. Up to 1000/- 184 MVA
2.9.4 Leaving vehicle in unoccupied engine. Rs.100/- 126-177 MVA v2.9.5 Leaving vehicle in unsafe position. Rs.100/- 122 177 MVA
2.9.6 In case of a minor Accident. Rs. 1000/- 184 MVA
2.9.7 Playing music while Driving. Rs. 100/- 102/177 MVA v2.9.8 Driving without Silencer. Rs. 100/- 120/190(2)/177CMVR v2.9.9 Driving when mentally or physically unfit. Court Challan 186 MVA
OFFENCES RELATED TO TOWING OF VEHICLES
3.1 Two Wheeler. Rs.100/- RRR 177 MVA
3.2 Car , Jeep, Taxi, Auto Rickshaw. Rs.200/- RRR 177 MVA
3.3 Truck, Tanker, Trailor. Rs.600/- RRR 177 MVA
OFFENCES RELATED TO POLLUTION
4.1 Smoking in Public Transport. Rs. 100/- 86(1)(5)/177 DMVR
4.2 Pollution Not Under Control. Rs. 100/- 99(1)(a)/177 DMVR
4.3 Fixing multi-toned/shrill horn. Rs.500/- 119 CMVR 190(2) MVA
4.4 Blowing Pressure Horn. Rs. 100/- 96(1)/177 DMVR
4.5 Silencer/muffler making noise. Rs.500/- CMVR 120 190(2) MVA
4.6 Smoky Exhaust. Rs.500/- 115 CMVR 190(2) MVA
4.7 Using horn in Silence Zone. Rs.100/- 21(ii) RRR 177 MVA
OFFENCES RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES
5.1 Using Vehicle in Unsafe Conditions. Court Challan 192 MVA
5.2 When motor vehicle is out of state for more than 12 months. Rs.100/- 47-177 MVA
5.3 Particulars to be printed on transport vehicles. Rs.100/- 84(G)-177 MVA
5.4 Without Wiper Rs.100/- CMVR 101 5,12 177 MVA
5.4 Without Side Mirror. Rs.100/- 5, 7/177 MVA
5.5 Defective tyres. Rs.100/- CMVR 94
5.6 No indication board on left hand drive vehicle. Rs.100/- 120, 177 MVA
5.7 Sale of motor vehicle/alteration of motor vehicle in contravention of Act. Rs.300/- 52/191 MVA, 32/192.66/192 MV Act
5.8 Vehicles fitted with dark glasses/sun films. Rs.100/- 100 CMVR 177 MVA
5.9 Driving without proper number plate/ illuminating rear number plate. Rs.100/- 236 MMVR 177 MVA
5.10 Failing to display public carrier board. Rs.100/- 116 MMVR 177 MVA
5.11 Using private vehicle for commercial purposes. Rs. 5000/-( not less than Rs. 2000/-)
5.12 Any sort of misconduct with passengers, not wearing uniform/not displaying badge. Rs.100/- MMVR 21(18)177 MVA
5.13 Overloading a goods vehicle. Rs. 2000/-plus Rs. 1000/- for every additional ton. MMVR 93(u)(i)177 MVA
5.14 Carrying goods in a dangerous or hazardous manner. Imprisonment and/or fine of Rs. 3000/- 29 RRR177 MVA
5.15 Infringement of permit conditions. Imprisonment and/or fine of Rs. 5000/-( not less than Rs. 2000/-) -
5.16 Use of Colored light on Vehicle Rs. 100/- 97(2)/177 DMVR
Documents to be carried at all times
1 Valid driving license.
2 Vehicle Registration Certificate.
3 Road Tax Token.
4 Pollution under Control Certificate.
5 Current Insurance Certificate.
I got the above details from a blog by Mr. Ashok, who graciously gave me permission to use the same.
Click http://bharat-motor-training-school.blogspot.com to get information on getting a license, etc. mainly of four wheelers.
After you buy the bike
Don't throw away the manual supplied with a bike.
Stick to Running in period mentioned in the manual as it will help engine performance for the future.
Before starting the bike
Check brake and horn when you start the vehicle and put on the helmet and strap it securely.
See that the light is switched off when you start the bike to avoid bulb blowing off.
After starting the bike
Don't start the vehicle inside the premises and zoom in to the traffic outside to avert collision for yourself and heart attack for motorists already coming from your left.
Wait for the traffic to pass before cutting through to turn right.
Switch on the light if it is night time but not the high beam.
Turning at a corner
Reduce speed, brake, blow horn, signal even if you are turning left at a corner.
Repeat above when turning right at a corner.
Braking
Brake gently with a pumping action than braking at the last moment without reducing the speed and changing gear.
Press clutch while changing gear but not while braking.
At the signal
At the signal wait for the signal light to turn green!
Switch off the bike if the signal counter shows 50.
Even if you don't follow the tip above at least be on neutral as the bike on gear can jump forward if jerked suddenly, a possibility if another motorist decides to apply brake at the last moment.
U-turns
At a U-turn don't turn immediately after the road divider to avoid tight turning.
Switch off the indicator light after turning.
Overtaking
Overtake on the right.
Blow horn and let the motorist in front know that you are overtaking.
Don't try to overtake on the right a vehicle which has right indicator on.
General
Let the others know that you are on road by horning when over taking and at night by not wearing black/dark dress and not using a black helmet.
Use common sense and don't let other motorists' behaviour turn you into a law breaker!
Drive with confidence and a smile!
Our roads are not wide enough is a fact every one knows. But it is not unusual to see that the space is further narrowed down by parking of cars. So apart from motorists, the pedestrians also have to use this space. Still people go on without any thought about safety like the cyclist on a cell phone in the above photo.
This is my letter to The Hindu I sent today. Whether they publish it or not, I have published it: )
SirIt is nothing new for our people to jump over poodles, evade pestering vendors, avoid being electrocuted by exposed wirings, etc. Added to the list is haphazard parking because of too many vehicles, carrying too few people, looking for space which is scarce! It is so easy to get the cars with ever willing banks lending a hand, literally. This parking menace is not only affecting people in shopping areas but also in residential areas. Already people are forced to walk on road because of lack of pavements, which, if they exist are taken over by casual labourers or cars, once again. The parked cars on roads, not only reduce the width of the roads but also force the people to walk in the middle of the road which is already treated as disputed area by motorists. Now with the introduction of nano cars it is possible that the problem will be further compounded. So everyone may finally end up walking as there will be no space to drive! It is high time that the authorities demand for the 'availability of parking space within the premises' certificate. Or the government can charge a hefty sum as parking fee from those people who use the public space as parking area. At least this will force people to realise that the 'roads are not their ancestors' property' as the old adage goes!
Watch this video which gives you a nice insight into the way people behave on roads, whether they are motorists or pedestrians.
The law says that a bike should sport rear view mirror, Saree guard and crash bar. The law also says that you should not have fancy horns. But you can see many drivers flouting these norms. Rather than going into their reasons for the same here is my list of vehicles you should be careful with.
1. Bike with no rear view mirror - they cannot spot you overtaking from the right side.
2. Bikers without helmet - they don't have their first line of defense in case of fall which is possible with a two wheeler which is an unstable vehicle.
3. Biker with fancy horn - he will make you jump out of your seat and difficult to spot.
4. Biker on designer bike - he is on road to make an impression. Be careful that he doesn't make any on you as he zig zags his way through!
5. Vehicles which honk while waiting at the signal - they are either impatient or in a hurry.
6. Vehicle with fancy numbers - though not unlawful it is possible that they may have 'connections'.
7. Water Tanker, Lorry and Buses - of course...
Your contributions are welcome to this list.
Recently my father had to go to Mumbai by flight. On reaching he contacted help desk about catching an auto to Kurla. Immediately the person in charge there geve my father a pamphlet and escorted him to an auto. The pamphlet contained details about the fare to be paid. The auto driver put on the meter and started. Contrary to my father's thinking, conditioned by chennai auto experience, there was no haggling when he got down! Incidentally the meter showed the distance travelled and not the fare to be paid. The pamphlet had detailed instructions about the fare to be paid based on the meter reading. By the way the minimum fare is Rs.9/- for the first 1.6 kms and Rs.5/- for every other km. So we, Chennai people, have one more thing to dream about: )
Who use roads? We, the public. Who are responsible for maintaining road discipline? Traffic police, public servants. Who are in charge of public servants/ The politicians. Who are in charge of Politicians!!!
It says on the traffic manual that if the light is on amber and you have crossed the stop line you can continue across. But I know an incident where the traffic police charged the driver for this!
There is much talk about traffic police should be strict. But how can they be if the person they charge is connected and the charger is one punished:( So what to do? Easy. Whoever has a big vehicle, fancy vehicle,vehicle with a fancy number,vehicle with party flag and whoever violates boldly, talks back at them, zig zags past them will not be booked. If there is no accident, even if there is blatant violation like jumping signals, having banned horns, not having rear view mirror, sari guard, crash bar, not stopping at stop line, etc., then everything is ok! First let us give the traffic police authority as responsibility and authority go hand in hand. Then make them account for it.
A friend of mine was waiting at the Spencers signal and there comes this two wheeler at break neck speed with two youngsters on it thinking they can brake at the last moment. Just then an auto moved in the way and to avoid it they bent a little and went past my friend's car in such a way that their handle bar broke one rear light and gave a long, deep scratch on the side. Of course they fell at the zebra crossing and suffered injuries. Seeing their injuries my friend sympathised. Result. A bill for more than 10000/- from his repair shop.
It seems the education is used to spin out excuses than follow rules. Neither the educated nor the uneducated are concerned about others and seem to be bent upon oneupmanship and the traffic police are unconcerned as long as no accident happens in their beat!
As a concerned Indian I cynically wonder whether our representatives are as concerned. They get vip treatment whatever the mode of transport may be and get to hog the best part of the road in the best vehicles on road Commenting on our roads sometimes I feel the potholes on our roads are the governments of speed breakers as the real speed breakers vanish whenever a road is relaid which is often!
In our traffic the meaning of green is go, amber is go fast and red is go faster!
Chennai traffic police announced an year back that they will fine those with high beam on. But as all their announcements it died a natural death Neither the police nor the drivers/riders(d/r for short) seem to remember or care. Of course some vehicles go even without low beam. The worst thing is the offenders do not even care for the affected d/r's dim dip routine. Maybe they do not understand Still worse is some cars, mainly cabs, having their right head light on high beam and left on low beam!
Another story. A father is taking his child to school on his bike. She suddenly exclaims "father, I pity that uncle" showing him another biker. Father asks "why?". "See, it seems he doesn't have any space on his bike to attach his helmet. He is wearing it on his head. poor uncle".
I just started from a signal. The speed was below 30 kmph. Not riding near the median as I know the possibility of a bent rod sticking out. All of a sudden I felt something pull me backwards and turning my handlebar to the right. Tried to correct my course but fell down on my left bruising my knee and foot. Thank god! Other vehicles avoided me. When I got up and righted the bike I found a cable wire running high above in a loop around my right rear view mirror. It has snapped some how and fell down at the moment my bike was passing. Of course I did not sue the cable owner!
Some one said 'In US cars run on gas;in India cars run on horns'. This is true for other vehicles also. As far as I know the purpose of horn is to let the other know about your presence. If he/she gives way you can pass. But people seem to think that just because they have honked their horn they should be given way! They will not consider the reasons like that the other person is boxed in, is going to turn right with indicator on!, has to avoid a pot hole, etc.
Drunken driving and penalties
The difficulty with implementing all these penalties, like demerit points, cancellation of licence in our country is how to track these things. It is a well known fact that many of the drivers/riders haven't seen a license in their life, though they may be riding for the past 40 years! And it is very easy to get a license. There was a reported case of a man without legs getting a car driving license!
Then who is to impose these penalties? Our toothless, corrupt traffic police! It is said that they pay money to powers that be to be posted in lucrative areas, same as posting to anti-prohibition wing which is lucrative. There are people who think that only document they need while driving is the legal tender, that too in 10s!
There are people who say that penalties will not be effective. Educating the public is the best solution. But as the famous words of wisdom goes 'you can wake up a person who sleeps, but not one who pretends to be sleeping'!
So what is the solution? Political will(read-no vote bank politics) and non-interference by politicians for some sustained time will show people that the government means business! But who is listening? Clinking of glasses drown out everything.
Can you identify the light on the left?
Doctors warn about it. Police warn about it. Newspapers warn about it. But all the warnings fall on deaf ears.
Got it now? It is the blue light normally seen on any dash board;bike or car. Do you know what it means? If yes, why do you have it on? If no, why are you on the road in the first place?
I don't know whether it is the characteristic of any police announcement anywhere in the world or just confined to India that announcement is made for announcement sake! Start from never ending warnings to Autos, helmet flip flop, dedicated website, pavement for pedestrians, Thirupathy chalo traffic diversion, turnable no 'U' turns, oh! come on you know what I am talking about. But there was one announcement which hit the headlines, then the 3rd page and sometimes the obituary page that was given through press conference;newspapers quoted eye surgeons and foolish people like me were happy!
I hope you know now what I am talking about! Not as popular as rash driving, helmet less travel, jumping signals;but nevertheless as dangerous.
High Beam - a bright light that dims many a lives and families. Many a times I had wondered about the need of High beam in our city traffic. Yes, there are many unlit streets, roads and sometimes useful in spotting the pot holes. But are these the only reasons or is there some other reason for switching on the high beam?
Suddenly it hit me. Not the bright light normally but I think I got it right. See, we are so used to on/off positions in switches normally. But in this case we have three positions;off/low beam/high beam! Maybe this is what confuses many drivers/riders. They think that the switch at mid point means faulty switch! So go all the way up - literally for their switch and sometimes for.... Then what about the blue light. It is there to tell you that the high beam is on, have mercy, beam it low. But people take it as an indication that the head light is on!
Sometimes I wonder whether the people know that there are two beam settings. Till I get an answer for that PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE LIGHT!
I am a careful, no, very careful driver. Defensive to a default. Always thinking of how other vehicles will behave really or hypothetically. So it is no wonder that it irritates me to see other drivers behave as if there is no tomorrow. Always rushing.
I remember my friend writing in my book more than 25 years ago. 'If you drive like hell you will reach it'. Sometimes I think that I should put it as a slogan on my bike. But seeing the reality I feel that the wordings should be 'If you drive like hell someone will reach it'.
Some months back at a signal everyone was waiting for the red to change. When the green came there was a mad rush as occupying the free space is how people see driving/riding on the road as if it is a poromboke thereby shutting out other drivers. Victory! But as always the case a bike from the right side road who jumped the signal was rushing towards the left thereby coming in the way of the rushing traffic. A bike from this side which won the race came in the path of the offending vehicle. The signal jumper tried to avoid this bike by swerving to his left but a bag on the right side of his bike hit the other bike sending it skidding. The offender just zigzagged his way through and vanished. The lone traffic cop jumped on another person's vehicle chasing the offender leaving the person who won the race lying some 25 feet away, broken! What happened to that person? My friend who witnessed the accident didn't tell me. He was rushing to his office. What happened to the cop's chase? The newspapers didn't tell me.
What is it that makes people think they can jump signal, cause accident and speed away? What is it that makes people throttle the engine even if the count down is at 98!? What is it that makes other people speed away not wanting to help? Is it because in the 'concrete jungle' also 'might is right'!?
I reach my office in time. Of course I start early!
This is a forwarded email I received in July 2007. Originated by MADD(Mothers Against Drunken Drivers), Dallas, Texas. A message which moved me so much that I translated in Tamil and recorded it in a suitable manner and played it in my programme on FM Rainbow, Chennai. You can hear the audio in here.
I went to a party,
And remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom
So I had a sprite instead.
I felt proud of myself,
The way you said I would,
That I didn't drink and drive,
Though some friends said I should.
I made a healthy choice,
And your advice to me was right,
The party finally ended,
And the kids drove out of sight.
I got into my car,
Sure to get home in one piece,
I never knew what was coming, Mom
Something I expected least.
Now I'm lying on the pavement,
And I hear the policeman say,
The kid that caused this wreck was drunk,
Mom, his voice seems far away.
My own blood's all around me,
As I try hard not to cry.
I can hear the paramedic say,
This girl is going to die.
I'm sure the guy had no idea,
While he was flying high,
Because he chose to drink and drive,
Now I would have to die.
So why do people do it, Mom
Knowing that it ruins lives?
And now the pain is cutting me,
Like a hundred stabbing knives.
Tell sister not to be afraid, Mom
Tell daddy to be brave,
And when I go to heaven,
Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.
Someone should have taught him,
That it's wrong to drink and drive.
Maybe if his parents had,
I'd still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom
I'm getting really scared.
These are my final moments,
And I'm so unprepared.
I wish that you could hold me Mom,
As I lie here and die.
I wish that I could say, "I love you, Mom!"
So I love you and good-bye.
The placement of signals on our roads is another story. At many places they are placed just before a bus-stop, flyover or after them which automatically reduces the speed of vehicle movement. But the above signals take the cake! They are just 100 meters apart! Still about 150 meters away is the Teynampet signal! Some 150 meters before also a signal exists. The powerful logic is these two signals make entering into or exiting from Anna Arivalayam easier as taking U-turns are only for ordinary mortals like you and me!
Narrow Streets becoming narrower...
Broad roads becoming narrower...
Narrow street and garbage clearing at 12 pm...!?
I mean the monkies Gandhiji talked about. See no evil, Hear no evil and Speak no evil!
Same with our Traffic Police. They will not SEE violations in number plates, lack of rear-view mirror, helmet, etc. They will not HEAR air horns and other fancy horns prohibited by law! They will not SPEAK if you are connected even if remotely to anyone or anything!
Who is to be blamed? Public, Police or Politicians?!
I feel that the vehicle population explosion can be traced to the gear less vehicles. Women, senior citizens seem to be the popular users of these vehicles which don't need technical skills. No clutching, declutching, shifting of gears. It is just switch on, rise and go! The speed with which they are driven can only be tagged as in compared freedom. The power of the vehicles are also on the rise and most of the youngsters(boys or girls) enjoy weaving in and out of the paths of other vehicles resulting in wrecked nerves and vehicles. But can you catch them? Sorry, they have already taken the turn(for worse!).
In India we follow the rule keep left. But that is only on paper. Vehicles occupy the whole road unless there is a permanent road divider. They don't care about the vehicles coming on the opposite side whether from safety point of view or possibility of traffic jams. This is not just on roads but also in the subways, on the flyovers. Mad rush is the word for our traffic. I have always wondered whether it is because of ignorance or selfishness. Concern for others is a bad word mouthed by incompetent drivers who can't go along with the tide of rule breaking!
Our narrow roads require the road users to be athletic, acrobatic whether they are riding a vehicle or walking on the vanishing foot paths! Agreed, the road is not vehicle owner's property just because they pay road taxes, but shouldn't the pedestrians show little common sense. Even those who come in vehicles become pedestrians once they get off their vehicles. But it is a common sight to see pedestrian crossing wherever they want to, forcing hard braking. When brakes fail it is bone breaking! It is also common to see adults with children also joining the fun and have the kids not on the platform side, dragging them across roads in between vehicles. How can we expect the children growing up like this to obey the law or use common sense?
Should, need not, may, again should ...... Tamilnadu govt's stands in respect of two wheeler riders wearing helmets! That too after the matter went to Court and on court's orders!
Opinions may differ. It is my life is the common refrain. But my question is why is the helmet not strapped at all or not strapped properly.
Logic of wearing helmet is lost as at the point of impact the helmet will fly before the life does.
But are they really autocratic or it is just that the users are submissive?
This question always arises seeing the behavior of both. Mechanical meter, Digital meter or No meter no questions asked as the meters are only used as hanger by the driver for his uniform. No questions on meter, no questions on rate, no questions on breaking of traffic rules, no questions on illegal parking. It is rather the questioner is questioned 'do you know the difficulty of getting license, the cost of petrol(even for a diesel auto), daily rent, mamool for the police on beat, ...?'
So rather than the cost of living factor(which is higher in Bangalore with better autos) it seems the clout the auto drivers enjoy because of the clout they have with the politicians, dons, police, etc., decide the fate of the general public.
