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silkboard - 18 December, 2007 | Traffic | Bangalore | environment
[flickr-photo:id=2120083156,size=m][flickr-photo:id=2120084172,size=m] Before I start on a long rant with my reactions, thoughts and ideas, tell me this. How should one react or behave on seeing things like these? And what should change to prevent these drivers from resorting to these shortcuts? Its small things like these that slow our traffic down. You know, one wrongly parked vehicle, one driver on the wrong side, one red light jumper, one illegal shop on the pavements, one illegal building close to the road etc. Why do we not see any focus on eliminating these problems - sum of which is what causes most of our jams and bottlenecks - and instead we find BDA/BBMP/BCP etc trying leapfrog solutions like flyovers and elevated roadways? About the pics: 1) That auto is going wrong side on building-forever Marathahalli Railway bridge. His possible excuse (didn't ask him) - my passenger was in a rush. 2) That truck is going wrong on Varthur Road. His excuse (I did ask him). Taking a U-turn is too tough and time taking for his big vehicle. Better excuse than that auto, but not good enough. He can manage a K-turn on this road.
COMMENTS
SB... please be very careful. road rage is pretty high and you donot at any time want to confront people because if any thing goes wrong most us would lack 'support system' needed to tackle these things meaningfully. An off duty cop got thulped near devegowda bunk a few months ago for confronting a van guy. perhaps being discreet about it is better. since you were taking a picture anyways, perhaps you can take pics and see if some cop gets interested.
dont let it get you..
blrsri - 18 December, 2007 - 08:32
seen too much of this..so a modification to what yoda says.. frustrations -> anger -> suffering better still, the auto and truck guys are on the road for longer than us and its easy that they are affected by the traffic, probably lot more than us! So, lets wait for the miracle underpasses and completion of the marahtalli bridge! :P
traffic marshals
murali772 - 18 December, 2007 - 10:10
The following is what I had suggested to the erstwhile Addl Commr of Police, Traffic, Bangalore, to help mitigate the situation.
The idea was that when people realise that there's a body of responsible citizens keeping a watch over you, 90 % of them will tend to behave better. And, that in itself can make a huge difference. As for the rest, it will help build up records to tighten the screws on them when they get caught for some serious offences.
The Addl Commr stated he found merit in it, and that he will take it up with the Commissioner. But, it didn't happen, and he is now posted elsewhere.
Muralidhar Rao
Traffic Marshals
Aim / Purpose:
To provide necessary interface between the traffic police and the community, with a view to improving the overall traffic management in the city
Members:
§ The initial core team of five members to be nominated by (say) Rtn SN.
§ Another 20 members to be added, proposed by one of the core team members, and seconded by two others, with as wide a geographical spread over the city as possible.
§ Membership to be formally reviewed every year, while also electing the chairman for the year.
§ If a minimum of five members make a written representation at any given time, a member may be removed after giving a chance for a hearing.
Identity Cards:
The members shall be issued identity cards / badges by the Commissioner.
Functions:
§ On the authority of the ID badges, members may counsel traffic offenders. Where required, they may report the offences to the authorities for further action and records.
§ Members to closely interact with the local traffic authorities in matters of traffic control in their respective areas.
§ A meeting of all members with the traffic authorities to be held once every month for exchange of views, training, etc.
Responsibilities:
§ Members to be role models as far as their own driving habits are concerned.
§ Also, they should be polite, and scrupulously impartial in their handling of traffic offenders.
convict by photo's
blrsri - 18 December, 2007 - 11:01
Today most people have phones with digital camera's which can capture photos with good resolution..cant it be used to frame these violators..based on their registrations?
murali sir, i really like how you take systems approach to these problems. my friend shas3 has some ideas on privatization of enforcement. (Please scroll up and down the thread to see a tet-a-tet between members about it. blrsri, this thing about cameras needs to be figured out. say if the technology were there, would this be legal.
towards more objective policing
murali772 - 19 December, 2007 - 02:00
Very interesting discussion. If only the powers that be would read all these. Here's a link to a comment I had once earlier made on the subject: http://traffic-transport-solutions.blogspot.com/2007/04/towards-more-objective-policing.html Muralidhar Rao
traffic flow observation..
blrsri - 19 December, 2007 - 08:17
The idea of having signal free roads using underpasses should work, I guess. I was observing the traffic behaviour yesterday while driving home. I was at a junction where the busses take a turn into Ulsoor..from the OMR near the Phillips Building. There was chaos as usual with the 2 lane road builidng up 4 lane traffic. But once that was cleared I found that traffic flow on the ulsoor tank bund was smooth though it was just one lane! No one violated the lanes.. I was averaging 35Kmph. I think/pray this will happen with the signal less junctions that are being planned. The only clause is that we should start a efficient mechnisms to clear break down vehicles.
Strange no more.
ellelliyu - 25 December, 2007 - 05:09
I live in that area, and travel by that 'dabba' stretch everyday. Of course there are times when I wish someone catches him, but thats a wish that will mostly be unfulfilled :(
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