Experts Speak on Road Safety!!

In a bid to learn about 'Road Safety', I attended a Conference on 'Public Private Partnership in Road Transport and Infrastructure' at New Delhi. Here are some viewpoints on 'Road Safety' from the experts:

Mr. Rohit Baluja-President, Institute for Road Traffic Education (IRTE), New Delhi

''1,30,000 people die in India and almost 1.5million are seriously injured. The problem is basically that we need a political will. The will has to come from the top and it has to flow down from the politicians to the bureaucracy and then it comes down to the people. But what the people can do is atleast do not buy license. Go through a proper driving training test, do not be in such a hurry that you want to lose your life, coz Life is precious and make sure as little violations would do, would be best for us and the country. This will be the contribution from a Road User.''

Professor S.L.Dhingra, IIT Bombay

''Road Safety consists of three to four components- environmental safety, geometric component and traffic component, everything should be as per the specifications and desirability. For Road Safety we have to conduct couple of audits, safety audit per se but with that component of geometric audit, traffic audit and environmental audit. Social audit is also important in which Human behavior has to be studied like enforcement and the like. The things should be studied from all the angles, but we think geometric audit is very important where geometrics are considered for example if curves are not properly defined, visibility is not there, markings, signange or signals,  widening on the curves, the super elevation on the curves and so on are very important. In other countries accident reconstruction is done, which is quite significant. Accident reconstruction is  to find out the different causative factors leading to road accidents, where you can re-do the model by changing different factors one at a time as there'll be n number of factors and then coming up to the factor that might be contributing the most towards the Road accidents, we call it 'Crash' rather than 'Accidents'. Then the spot is identified, experiments are done and safe way of moving and reacting, taking care of all the specifications which are there and are meant for it are done.''

Professor Pradip Sarkar- Department of Transport Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

''Road Safety problem in India is very very important with respect to saving our valuable lives and also of our society . More than one lakh and thirty thousand people die in India every year because of Road and Transport related accidents. So, the question is when you look at the Road safety aspects in the developed countries, you will find there is a major difference and practically if you look at the victims of Road accidents all over the world, over one billion people have died particularly India takes ten percent of that. Who are to be blamed and responsible for it? I think we all have to blame ourselves. If one has to be a good Road User please drive carefully and if you have to drive carefully, you need to get your driving license in the most rational, judicious mode and knowledgeable way. Its not that you approach the Regional Transport or the Road Transport Office to get your license. You have to be fully prepared not only with the books but also practice yourself so that you take an oath that you never ever make any mistakes when you drive on the roads. If you have that commitment to drive and when you drive your vehicles without being drunk and with alertness, also realizing the fact that you are carrying a vehicle which is more than a ton and if in case it touches anybody it can not only cause fatality but also other problems as well. Therefore, you have to be morally conscious as your driving has lot of effect on others as well who can fall into dangerous situations because of wrong driving. So, drive safely and save the society from your good driving.''

Dothy Harjanto, Port Industry,  Indonesia

''Speaking about Road Safety I think most of the developing nations has the same problem. Problems like Road infrastructure, regulation, awareness among the people, public transportation that government and community provides and also law enforcement. In Indonesia, we have new regulation regarding Road and Transport management, we have 'tax progressive' for owning cars. In order to minimize the number of cars on roads, the people are expected to use Public transportation which reduces the traffic and expected to reduce the road fatalities. Other regulation is 'Three in One' during peak hours which implies there should be atleast three people in one car otherwise the government will put a fine. This works as most of the people prefer to stay at the office during those hours or they come early reducing the traffic chaos on roads.'' 

Traffic Lights!!

Traffic Lights are ought to be taken seriously....Well here is an example!!

Puts a whole new meaning of  "never run a red light!!" Did you know Gibraltar's Airport runway and vehicular  traffic crossings are at the same level..

Confession of a Road Rage VICTIM!!

It was just another day...a routine drive back home from University..abiding to traffic rules, minimal horn honking,, enjoying the monsoon not-so-dreary weather..trying to be a civilised driver until the moment I hear an emergency siren and up goes my awareness level!!
What the...Am I blocking an Ambulance path...Is someone loosing on its Golden Hour. It was just an audio signal and without looking back in my  rear-view mirror, I accelerated past a bus hurriedly to clear the way for the vehicle behind me, which I thought was an ambulance, and help it carry the unfortunate person who might be at a critical stage of his life. Lo and Behold, soon i was overtaken by a Maruti with a bogus siren.
I was shocked more than surprised to see this guy who's unlawfully using the aid of an 'emergency siren' only to get across.. was he REALLY asking for a way?
I had a fleeting glimpse of a headphone totting youngster, swearing at me with enraged expressions. Then suddenly he pulled up in front of my car slowing down much to my amazement. He tried to block my way for quite sometime, and when I managed to overtake him, he tailgated me, honking and at time, coming by my side, and pleading with folded hands to me to stop.
This was completely bizarre...on one hand he was trying to shout at the top of his voice verbally accusing, and at another instance trying to request to stop for him. I could not understand his behaviour.
I decided to play cool and keep my calm avoiding any direct eye contact with him, and at one stage, did think of reporting him to any traffic police or PCR but there wasn't any on way.  This ten minute ordeal seemed like ages, and at one stage, I did think of stopping, coming out and thrashing him. That would have been another case of road rage. However, I decided otherwise, and was able to dodge him and reach my destination...safe and sound.
Many of my friends often reported such incidents, but for me, this was my first experience of road rage and stalking.

Traffic 'Lessons'

I just received a forwarded message which is purported to have been written by an expat on “Driving and traffic in India”.   Though hilarious but a sad state of affair.

Driving and traffic in India.

This hilarious article was written by an Expat from Baan, Netherlands, who spent two years in Hyderabad.

For the benefit of every Tom, Dick and Harry visiting India and daring to drive on Indian roads, I am offering a few hints for survival. They are applicable to every place in India except Bihar, where life outside a vehicle is only marginally safer.

Indian road rules broadly operate within the domain of karma where you do your best, and leave the results to your insurance company. The hints are as follows:

Do we drive on the left or right of the road?

The answer is "both". Basically you start on the left of the road, unless it is occupied. In that case, go to the right, unless that is also occupied. Then proceed by occupying the next available gap, as in chess. Just trust your instincts, ascertain the direction, and proceed. Adherence to road rules leads to much misery and occasional fatality. Most drivers don't drive, but just aim their vehicles in the intended direction. Don't you get discouraged or underestimate yourself except for a belief in re-incarnation, the other drivers are not in any better position.

Don't stop at pedestrian crossings just because some fool wants to cross the road. You may do so only if you enjoy being bumped in the back. Pedestrians have been strictly instructed to cross only when traffic is moving slowly or has come to a dead stop because some minister is in town. Still some idiot may try to wade across, but then, let us not talk ill of the dead.

Blowing your horn is not a sign of protest as in some countries. We horn to express joy, resentment, frustration, romance and bare lust (two brisk blasts), or, just mobilize a dozing cow in the middle of the bazaar.

Keep informative books in the glove compartment. You may read them during traffic jams, while awaiting the chief minister's motorcade, or waiting for the rainwaters to recede when over ground traffic meets underground drainage.

Occasionally you might see what looks like a UFO with blinking colored lights and weird sounds emanating from within. This is an illuminated bus, full of happy pilgrims singing bhajans. These pilgrims go at breakneck speed, seeking contact with the Almighty, often meeting with success.

Auto Rickshaw (Baby Taxi): The result of a collision between a rickshaw and an automobile, this three-wheeled vehicle works on an external combustion engine that runs on a mixture of kerosene oil and creosote. This triangular vehicle carries iron rods, gas cylinders or passengers three times its weight and dimension, at an unspecified fare. After careful geometric calculations, children are folded and packed into these auto rickshaws until some children in the periphery are not in contact with the vehicle at all. Then their school bags are pushed into the microscopic gaps all round so those minor collisions with other vehicles on the road cause no permanent damage. Of course, the peripheral children are charged half the fare and also learn Newton's laws of motion en route to school. Auto-rickshaw drivers follow the road rules depicted in the film Ben Hur, and are licensed to irritate.

Mopeds: The moped looks like an oil tin on wheels and makes noise like an electric shaver. It runs 30 miles on a teaspoon of petrol and travels at break-bottom speed. As the sides of the road are too rough for a ride, the moped drivers tend to drive in the middle of the road; they would rather drive under heavier vehicles instead of around them and are often “mopped" off the tarmac.

Leaning Towers of Passes: Most bus passengers are given free passes and during rush hours, there is absolute mayhem. There are passengers hanging off other passengers, who in turn hang off the railings and the overloaded bus leans dangerously, defying laws of gravity but obeying laws of surface tension. As drivers get paid for overload (so many Rupees per kg of passenger), no questions are ever asked. Steer clear of these buses by a width of three passengers.

One-way Street: These boards are put up by traffic people to add jest in their otherwise drab lives. Don't stick to the literal meaning and proceed in one direction. In metaphysical terms, it means that you cannot proceed in two directions at once. So drive, as you like, in reverse throughout, if you are the fussy type. Least I sound hypercritical; I must add a positive point also. Rash and fast driving in residential areas has been prevented by providing a "speed breaker"; two for each house.
This mound, incidentally, covers the water and drainage pipes for that residence and is left untarred for easy identification by the corporation authorities, should they want to recover the pipe for year-end accounting.

Night driving on Indian roads can be an exhilarating experience (for those with the mental makeup of Genghis Khan). In a way, it is like playing Russian roulette, because you do not know who amongst the drivers is loaded. What looks like premature dawn on the horizon turns out to be a truck attempting a speed record. On encountering it, just
pull partly into the field adjoining the road until the phenomenon passes. Our roads do not have shoulders, but occasional boulders. Do not blink your lights expecting reciprocation. The only dim thing in the truck is the driver, and with the peg of illicit arrack (alcohol) he has had at the last stop, his total cerebral functions add up to little more than a naught.

Truck drivers are the James Bonds of India, and are licensed to kill. Often you may encounter a single powerful beam of light about six feet above the ground. This is not a super motorbike, but a truck approaching you with a single light on, usually the left one. It could be the right one, but never get too close to investigate. You may prove your point posthumously.

Of course, all this occurs at night, on the trunk roads. During the daytime, trucks are more visible, except that the drivers will never show any Signal. (And you must watch for the absent signals; they are the greater threat). Only, you will often observe that the cleaner who sits next to the driver, will project his hand and wave hysterically. This is definitely not to be construed as a signal for a left turn. The waving is just a statement of physical relief on a hot day.

If, after all this, you still want to drive in India, have your lessons between 8 pm and 11 am-when the police have gone home and the citizen is then free to enjoy the 'FREEDOM OF SPEED' enshrined in our constitution.

Five Tips to Make Your Child Traffic-Safe.

What happens when your child is away attending school? Is he being taken on school bus. Or like in India, a cycle rickshaw is employed to carry your child to and back from school? Or may be a servant at home, or an office boy carries out the chore?
Well, whatever the mode may be it is essential that you make your child road-safe.
According to WHO's Global Status Report on Road Safety, road accidents are the second most important reason of death of 5-29 years old. Road crashes happen every 4.5 minutes in our part of the world. The best therefore, the parents must do is to take special interest in road safety of their families, especially children.
The video I shot recently shows the glaring and daring antics that children indulge in when not being watched. Even the adults, the parents and others ferrying children on their scooters, motorbikes, or bicycles and even rickshaws adopt wrong practices, jeopardising the life of children.

However, the parents must take the responsibility to teach the fundamentals of road use to their children.
a. Teach them the fundamentals of walking or driving on the road. Where, how and when they should cross the road.
b. Acquaint your child with the traffic rules, the road signs, and the right way to use the road.
c. Instruct your cycle rickshawallah or servant or whosoever picks up your child to strictly follow the traffic rules.
d. Talk to your school principal to instruct the school bus drivers, auto- and cycle-rickshaw drivers to follow traffic rules and ensure complete safety of children.
e. Walk the Talk. You as a parent has the greatest responsibility to follow the traffic rules and demonstrate with your own conduct. Children learn and acquire the knowledge through not what you say, but what you do.