I was listening to some excerpts of Oprah Winfrey's interview and some of the things she said was so true about India's traffic system. It was so funny the way she put it: "Mumbai's traffic seemed straight out of a video game," and another thing she said about red light signal was "Is it for your entertainment." She put it in a very nice way but it really sets you into thinking about the way the foreigners view us. Do they view us in a funny sort of wonderment way or do they view us in disdain about our utter disregard for traffic rules.
Driving through the lanes of India is indeed like a video game, where there is no rule for switching lanes, where you honk the ears out till others give way, where we can jump over lanes to outdo traffic snarls, and where we have no respect for traffic signals and only use them if we are watched over by the traffic constable.
Are we examples of utter chaotic traffic system outside India? Even small town cities/towns/countries outside India follow traffic rules because of heavy fine system till it has become a habit and ingrained in every individual. Why is it so hard for us to follow traffic rules? Here, instead, despite fine systems, there is no compunction to follow because of deep-grained corruption at the lowest levels. Here the traffic officers are more inclined to catch you if you defy the rules to make easy bucks rather than to stop you from doing the next time! They are very prompt in catching bikers without helmets and you should see the glee on their faces when the biker has to fish out bribes from his wallets. They position themselves at the most unlikely places where they catch easy prey. If they can catch no one, they will just stop vehicles and take ample advantage of their profession to harrass civilians.
Oprah's words about the traffic system hit me hard because I drive everyday and I need not be an outsider to see how badly we behave on road while driving. Everytime a biker or a car overtakes me from the wrong lane, I curse under my breath but I can do nothing beyond that. Everytime there is utter disregard of traffic rules, with cars streaming in from all directions and no one is willing to give in, you have no option but to give up. Either you follow the chaotic stream and become aggressive like others or get bullied if you try to be proper and follow the rules.
Another thing that we lack is complete traffic sense - this goes for pedestrians too. It seems there is an invariable urge for them to cross the road when the traffic signal turns green and the cars are surging ahead or they will cross without looking sideways as if its of least concern to them whether a car is coming their way or not. And if they happen to look your way, they will glare at you in such a way as if you have done a crime in stopping their casual jog across the street!
One more thing that irks me is when I see bikers or cars parking just at the turn of a corner with no care or worry that some vehicle may come and turn and may not see them being parked in the wrong way. People just park anywhere and everywhere with utter disregard that they are blocking the way or the road is getting jammed because of their attitude. I guess our attitude is, as long as we benefit or what befits us well, why worry how is it impacting others!
The most dangerous amongst all is the quintessential auto. They think they are invincible and are adept in wounding their way around any traffic snarl. They will veer so close to your vehicle that you can just squirm and pray that they don't touch yours.
Another wondrous thing that happens often is that despite an instruction for heavy-weight vehicles or slow-speeding vehicles to keep always on the left side, they will always drudge in their own sweet speed on the right and at the end moment will take a sudden turn towards left, and of course without switching on the indicators. As if they are trying to say blatantly - "we love to defy and we love blocking your way."
I learn everyday on the road but it is teaching me nothing but aggressiveness and impatience. I am learning how not to be bullied and I am learning that it is not a sensible thing here to mess with errant autos and unruly bikers and let them have their way. I am learning that sometimes my ego gets the better of me when I see a huge bus or car bullying me into a side and I refusing to get bullied, ensure that I get the better of that vehicle but later curse myself for being so foolish.
I am scared what I am learning and what future entails for people on the road here. Will it get from worse to uncontrollable or will it be remain one of those constant existing traits of Indian cities that outsiders tend to associate us with and soon may get the title of 'Eighth wonder of the world!'
Driving through the lanes of India is indeed like a video game, where there is no rule for switching lanes, where you honk the ears out till others give way, where we can jump over lanes to outdo traffic snarls, and where we have no respect for traffic signals and only use them if we are watched over by the traffic constable.
Are we examples of utter chaotic traffic system outside India? Even small town cities/towns/countries outside India follow traffic rules because of heavy fine system till it has become a habit and ingrained in every individual. Why is it so hard for us to follow traffic rules? Here, instead, despite fine systems, there is no compunction to follow because of deep-grained corruption at the lowest levels. Here the traffic officers are more inclined to catch you if you defy the rules to make easy bucks rather than to stop you from doing the next time! They are very prompt in catching bikers without helmets and you should see the glee on their faces when the biker has to fish out bribes from his wallets. They position themselves at the most unlikely places where they catch easy prey. If they can catch no one, they will just stop vehicles and take ample advantage of their profession to harrass civilians.
Oprah's words about the traffic system hit me hard because I drive everyday and I need not be an outsider to see how badly we behave on road while driving. Everytime a biker or a car overtakes me from the wrong lane, I curse under my breath but I can do nothing beyond that. Everytime there is utter disregard of traffic rules, with cars streaming in from all directions and no one is willing to give in, you have no option but to give up. Either you follow the chaotic stream and become aggressive like others or get bullied if you try to be proper and follow the rules.
Another thing that we lack is complete traffic sense - this goes for pedestrians too. It seems there is an invariable urge for them to cross the road when the traffic signal turns green and the cars are surging ahead or they will cross without looking sideways as if its of least concern to them whether a car is coming their way or not. And if they happen to look your way, they will glare at you in such a way as if you have done a crime in stopping their casual jog across the street!
One more thing that irks me is when I see bikers or cars parking just at the turn of a corner with no care or worry that some vehicle may come and turn and may not see them being parked in the wrong way. People just park anywhere and everywhere with utter disregard that they are blocking the way or the road is getting jammed because of their attitude. I guess our attitude is, as long as we benefit or what befits us well, why worry how is it impacting others!
The most dangerous amongst all is the quintessential auto. They think they are invincible and are adept in wounding their way around any traffic snarl. They will veer so close to your vehicle that you can just squirm and pray that they don't touch yours.
Another wondrous thing that happens often is that despite an instruction for heavy-weight vehicles or slow-speeding vehicles to keep always on the left side, they will always drudge in their own sweet speed on the right and at the end moment will take a sudden turn towards left, and of course without switching on the indicators. As if they are trying to say blatantly - "we love to defy and we love blocking your way."
I learn everyday on the road but it is teaching me nothing but aggressiveness and impatience. I am learning how not to be bullied and I am learning that it is not a sensible thing here to mess with errant autos and unruly bikers and let them have their way. I am learning that sometimes my ego gets the better of me when I see a huge bus or car bullying me into a side and I refusing to get bullied, ensure that I get the better of that vehicle but later curse myself for being so foolish.
I am scared what I am learning and what future entails for people on the road here. Will it get from worse to uncontrollable or will it be remain one of those constant existing traits of Indian cities that outsiders tend to associate us with and soon may get the title of 'Eighth wonder of the world!'
I agree with you entirely. Our traffic situation is just a reflection of the sort of mindset that the general Indian has: indisciplined, mannerless, and completely lacking in civic sense. It is hence no wonder that Oprah Winfrey made those statements, albeit in a polite and understated way. I would like to add another breed of people to the ones listed by you, who are the cause of great agony especially on Bangalore roads. These are those reckless, wild and maniacal cab drivers of the BPO/IT sector. They creep up out of the blue, almost knocking your vehicle down, without any indicator or observance of rules whatsoever. It is indeed a great strain to drive in today's traffic: the experience only leaves one feeling drained, annoyed and with frazzled nerves. Let us hope our law makers manage to retrieve the situation somewhat over the years. (We can only hope and pray!)
ReplyDeleteya ruma di...so true...there were so many examples that I could have written a novel and then i restrained myself..today i found two small scratches on the side door...am sure its the work of those errant bikers coz they make sure they are as close to ur car as possible and always in a hurry to overtake people...
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