City drivers, stop driving us
We need to think of Mumbai’s future and not just its tomorrow. To improve the condition of the city’s clogged streets, both citizens and the BMC must work together. The municipal corporation has to provide good infrastructure and citizens have to follow rules. Roads are for driving and footpaths are for walking. We need to understand and maintain this equilibrium.
Unfortunately, hawkers occupy most of our footpaths. This is exactly why we need regulated hawking zones. In fact, footpaths should be designed in a way that walking in itself becomes an enjoyable experience.
Further, to ease traffic and resultant congestion, we need more air-conditioned public transport buses and maybe even local trains.
Having said that, why do we find it easy to blame the BMC but never question our own civic sense?
Let’s remember that cities change for the better when its citizens behave well. And only good citizens make great cities. traffic, and pedestrians leisurely stroll on roads.
If only drivers followed traffic rules and pedestrians walked on footpaths, used subways and skywalks, and crossed roads following signals, Mumbai’s roads wouldn’t be half as chaotic.
Of course, the government also has a part to play. For instance, traffic policemen should perform their duty diligently. They should penalise both drivers and pedestrians when either are caught breaking traffic rules. Such penalties would act as a deterrent for potential offenders.
A combination of education, learning and punishment would go a long way in creating discipline on city’s roads. And what would really help is when each and every Mumbaiite swears to follow every single traffic rule, which, truly speaking, have been laid down for our own safety.
To rein in the chaos on Mumbai’s streets, the authorities and citizens will have to work in collaboration. We can start with the following steps:
Widen footpaths and construct railings that open into strategic exit points. This would encourage pedestrians to use footpaths and prevent bikers from climbing onto them.
Paint fading zebra crossings regularly.
Fine motorists who honk in no-honking zones. Ban obnoxiously loud horns.
Make skywalks userfriendly by deploying policemen.
Initiate anger management workshops for stressed drivers.
Bar big vehicles from entering narrow roads, with the possible exception of BEST buses.
We seem to have become more undisciplined in all walks of lives. We have scant regard for public spaces and property, and little fear of the law.
Drivers and pedestrians must share the blame for the state of our traffic and roads. Rash driving has become the norm, and pedestrians walk around with earphones plugged into their ears, oblivious to honks and changing traffic lights.
The government also has a role to play. Traffic policemen, for instance, should show more responsibility and integrity in booking offenders.
The civic administration must efficiently tackle the problem of unauthorised hawkers, squatters and beggars, as their presence on roads and pavements definitely adds to congestion and clogging. But most importantly, it is the citizens who must begin to act more responsibly.
Congestion on city streets has become a real hazard. Roads are perpetually clogged leading to unnecessary delays.
On several occasions, I have seen ambulances struggle to manoeuvre through packed roads but there is just no way to make space for them to pass. At such times, I always wonder what if one of my own was in that ambulance? How tormenting would that be?
In my opinion, bad drivers are the main reason for clogged roads. Jumping signals has become a norm. And I think this can only be controlled by installing CCTVS. Drivers have little respect for traffic rules. Autorickshaws and two-wheelers never use separate lanes.
No wonder the incidence of road accidents in India is among the highest in the world. Both citizens and the government must work together to improve our poor road safety standards.
Perhaps revoking driving licences after three traffic offences must be made mandatory.