Rules for Safety on Roads

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:-)

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Education or Commonsense?

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.

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Might is Right

Maybe the two metro buses are trying to implement the traffic rule 'don't overtake on over-bridges' - of course for others!

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Dangerous Moves

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.

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Double Dhamaka!

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!

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Rush or Rash?

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Be happy Chennai

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.

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.

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Law & Helmet

When Will the TC regulate the helmetless?

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Indi bloggers chennai meet

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.

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