Who should be blamed for the traffic chaos?

We as Bangalorean wonder everyday what is it with this traffic chaos. We hate traveling from one place to another especially in the evening and morning because of the hectic traffic. A distance of 7 to 8 kms would take about 45 minutes to 1 hour; sometimes it can even take up to 1 ½ or 2 good hours. Whom should we blame and what should we do as a citizen. We blame one another; a car driver would blame a Biker; a bus driver would blame the auto drivers or vice versa. Everyday whenever we head the road and go through the chaotic situation we would start cursing the other person to the left or right for whatever the reason be not really analyzing our self. My friend it may hurt or you might not believe it but the reason for all these chaotic situations is us. We are to be blame for it. Think about it whenever you head the road. How much do you follow the traffic rules or how patient are you when you drive or ride; how hurry were you…? Let me share we you some facts:

Most drivers/riders in Bangalore do not have a traffic sense, do not know the traffic rules and do not give a damn about others. They think they are the king of the road. They are also highly impatient and arrogant with a huge ego. Everyone is in hurry and never care about others. People change lanes at will. They do not bother who is behind or alongside them. It is the other person’s responsibility to take evasive action.
• In two lane roads people drive with their vehicles occupying half of either lane. This way they can prevent anyone from overtaking them on either lanes or switch to which ever lane is faster easily.• No one seems to stop after the green light turns red at signals. If you want to stop when the light turns red, do so at your own risk. There is a high possibility that the vehicle behind you will ram right into you!• People can turn to any direction at will. I have seen a lot of vehicles & Bikes especially busses turn left from the right most lanes or vice versa.• Turn indicators are just an unnecessary accessory. People use it for fun. They turn on the right indicator to turn left and are amused at the reaction of others. I can tell you my own experience: I was on my way to IG Circle (JP Nagar) from JP Nagar 6th phase. I had to a right turn at Saraki signal and since there were many vehicles coming down on the straight lane I stopped. Then approach this last vehicle which is a bus. I can see the bus Left indicator blinking. So I drove closer and took a right turn and was half way in the middle of the opposite lane. I was shock and my heart pounded real quick as I saw this bus coming straight on to my car instead of taking left. Thankfully I wasn’t in the middle of the road or else who knows. I made my move thinking the bus would take left as the indicator indicated.
• People do not respect the one way signs on roads. They travel in either direction. • Normally vehicles should keep left in India. But this does not apply to Bangalore. People travel on the right too especially if there is a median on the road and they join the road in the opposite direction.
• Nobody knows what “Give way” or “Stop and Go” means. Nobody cares who has the right of way in an intersection. It is the meanest or one with the biggest who gets the right of way.• People can not move is a straight line and at a constant speed. They like to keep moving sideways and accelerate and decelerate constantly.
• No body would like to wait or stop at a junction. If there are four lane/ways everyone would like to be the first one to cross it. Not bothered about accident or how hard he/she would have taken the other person by surprise. If at a junction and there are 4 lanes everyone would like to move on at the same time. Not thinking that it would cause chaos/traffic Jam because everyone wants to move on at the same time.
• No body really cares about the other individual. If one person stops to wait for the other vehicle from the other lane to cross the vehicle behind would start honking till the person have no other choices but to do the same…

Whom should we blame? The government or ourselves; We as responsible citizens needs to start analyzing things and think about it. Are we so selfish and don’t have time or care about our road condition. We talk so much about education, growth and other things. Why can’t we take at least a glimpse and start analyzing this one situation which is the main course of us being stagnant with whatever we do or we are. Bangalore has almost all kind of people from all over the world with different culture and tradition and with all sort of life. Why can’t we do something about this? Do we really have no time about it or are we just faking things up and not really bothered about it?
Why are people like this? I do not have a definitive answer. But maybe it is because you can get a license in India very easily. In most places you do not have to write the mandatory written test or do the practical test. For a small bribe you can get a license even without being in the country! The problem is you can not get a license even if you pass both the tests without the bribe. People always choose the easier way and as a result never know or bother about the traffic rules.

Bangalore is supposed to be filled with many educated people from all walks of life. Where are they? Why can’t we do something and make things better for ourselves. We all talk about time saving and other factors which are caused by the traffic woes.

Let us join hands together and try to do something about this. My sincere suggestions to all of you:
• Quit being selfish and start being a responsible citizen.
• Follow traffic rules and guidelines.
• Never think that you are in hurry and the other is not.
• Always set a buffer time whenever you travel anywhere. So that you don’t have to hurry and start breaking traffic rule or be the caused for it.
• Set examples. Everyone will follow.

There are many things that can help us solve this But let us learn to do just the basic things first the other will fall in place later. Last but not the least

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!!!