I see people jump lights with impunity. And it is not just the usual
suspects –i.e., the autos and the cabs. Two-wheelers, cars of every make
and size (self-driven and chauffeured), BEST buses (serious offenders) and
the occasional Mumbai police Bolero/Qualis – basically anyone who can jump
a light, does. Not that the other aspects of driving fare any better. But
at least, until a year or so ago, it seemed like while Mumbai drivers never
followed any other rule, the red light was still the last un-breached
frontier. It seems we have changed!
India has some appalling road-fatality statistics. According to the 2007
report of World Road Statistics (WRS), India ranked number two with 94,985
people killed in road accidents. As in most other things nowadays, we were
piped to the post by China, which lost 98,738 citizens.
Given our disregard for rules and our ignorance of the concept of
self-restraint, I have attempted to create a list of suggestions to make
our driving better, safer and less stressful. Please feel free to add to
this list.
1. Our Government should ban the manufacture of car horns. So every new
car will come without a horn.
2. At each intersection or crossing, introduce barrier
gates/arms/turnpikes, like at a level crossing. Only the sides with
the green lights will have their gates raised, the others will be
shut, and so people will not be able to jump red lights. Of course,
the barriers will have to be solid and extend all the way to the
ground, so as to prevent two-wheeler riders from tilting their
vehicles at 30? and sliding under the barrier.
3. Lanes should have dividers at least 12” high – this way we ensure
that all drivers stick to their lanes. No cutting! Of course, if the
guy in front decides to pick up a passenger, or generally stop to
leisurely spit out of the window, you’re in a situation. But you can
always beat him up. That’s still legal….or should be.
4. The horn should be banned
5. Indicators should be connected to the steering wheel. The moment the
wheel moves more than 5? in either direction, the relevant indicator
starts flashing.
6. Windows can’t be lowered while driving. This will take care of all
spitting and “throwing-cans-out-of-the-car’ instances.
7. Driving licenses should only be issued after tests. I have always
heard rumors of such a system. Will somebody please tell me if that’s
true?
8. Driving licenses should not, by law, be issued to the blind. From
personal experience, it seems that our country has the highest number
of optically-challenged drivers on the road.
9. The horn should be banned.
10. No more than 364,566 pedestrians, 35 cows and 12 dogs to be
allowed at any point of time per one-kilometer stretch of road.
11. The hi-beam headlight should be banned in vehicles that have
headlights.
12. Vehicles should not be permitted to be overloaded beyond 500%
capacity. (Of course, this does not apply to trains.) This rule
should be strictly enforced.
13. Children under 12 should not be allowed to drive without a
valid driving license.
14. Driving the wrong way in the path of oncoming traffic should be
discouraged. More than 10 such instances should result in the
cancellation of the offender’s driving license. If the offender did
not have a driving license, he should not be issued one.
15. The horn should be banned
I realize that for most of us, rules like these will take the fun out of
driving. So every weekend, we should allow people to come to a huge field
in (or with) their vehicles of choice. (Handcarts, ponies, the occasional
elephant, bicycles, dumpers, trucks, buses and tankers are all allowed.)
Pedestrians, beggars and hawkers should also be encouraged to participate
and generally mill around the field to better simulate Indian road
conditions. Then each person should be allowed to drive his vehicle within
the field in any manner or direction he chooses.
That way, we can still be true to our genes.
No comments:
Post a Comment