Geetanjali Krishna: Driving our roads crazy

Last week, there were media reports of a record 10,074 people challaned for violating traffic rules in Delhi in one day. The list of transgressions showed why Delhi’s roads are among the world’s worst — 743 people were booked for driving dangerously; 2,915 for jumping red lights; 1,085 two-wheeler drivers for not wearing helmets; 185 for driving against the flow of traffic; 168 for defective number plates and 62 for driving without a valid driving licence. Reading the papers in my balcony, I overheard some neighbourhood drivers discussing the news. They were unanimously derisive of the notes of surprise and amazement the newspaper articles adopted: “People on the road break traffic rules all the time, and most escape the eagle eyes of the police!” said one. Another concurred: “the statistics reflects only the fraction of people who break traffic rules — and unluckily get caught!”

As I eavesdropped from my balcony, they swapped tales of the traffic violations they’d committed, or seen. The conversation, predictably, began with speed. “To impose a speed limit of 50 kmph on city roads is ridiculous, when today’s cars don’t shudder at three times that speed!” said one. The others agreed. “Often while driving I don’t even realise when I cross 50 kmph, in fact my employer instructs me to go faster if I slow down!” said another. When one declared that he routinely drove at over 120 kmph on the DND Expressway, the others boasted of having driven at higher speeds, just to outdo him. Another issue that bugged them was parking, or the lack of it. “Basement parkings in malls are gloomy and cellphones usually don’t work there. Whenever my employer goes to the movies with her friends, I park in the No Parking zone outside. I rarely get caught. When I do, I pay the fine — it’s still better than parking in the dingy basement!” one said.

Then the conversation got worse. One driver said he’d read that on that momentous Friday, 923 motorcyclists were prosecuted for triple riding. “I drop my two kids to school everyday on the bike!” said one driver, “triple riding is the only way!” Another added: “When I take the family out anywhere, either we take the bus (which is restrictive) or all manage on one bike!” The others nodded sympathetically; agreeing that the government should turn a blind eye to this, as people like them had no choice but to carry two or even three people on two-wheelers. And of course, they all agreed helmets were an unnecessary expense forced upon them…

How could I not butt in? “So many people die in road accidents because of such disregard for traffic rules!” I said severely. Not too put out at being eavesdropped upon, they said, “We’re struggling to survive in Delhi, why impose so many rules on us? You don’t realise how stressful it is to drive everyday in terrible traffic!” one said. “Yes, leave the rules to the educated, rich drivers,” said the other facetiously, “who don’t earn a living on Delhi’s roads like we’ve to do…” The third driver’s comment met with the maximum approval: “I break traffic rules everyday, and have been caught only thrice this year. When checking is so lax, whether we do or don’t follow traffic rules makes no difference!” All believed that driving daily on crowded roads through traffic jams (for which their disregard for road rules was undoubtedly responsible) gave them the licence to drive as they pleased.

I left my balcony, wondering how to improve the road user character of people in the capital. Guess the first thing to do is to educate ourselves and the people who drive our cars…