Driving re-orientation for the Indian Drivers

One of the appreciable developments this country is witnessing in the recent years, is the changing face of the Indian Roads. We see long stretches of  4 track and 6 track highways being laid, throughout the length and breadth of the country, facilitating a lot of road traffic.

With every boon, comes a curse. Similarly, the curse behind the boon of good roads is rash and speed driving. No doubts great roads are built for the sake of enhancing commuting speed, but what we cannot afford to ignore is the safety aspect. As the highways are getting constructed, the unclear ‘take diversion’ boards and uncompleted roads, by itself pose a threat to the traveller’s safety. The highways are not yet insulated from pedestrians, cyclist and cattle’s. At the type of speeds you can do on these roads, the probability of someone surviving a road accident is minimal. While bye-pass flyovers have been built over many towns, there is still a lot of areas we see human intrusion. 

Another frightening reality of the highways is the pilgrims who go on “Paadha yatra” to temples, walking on the highways. Especially in night, they are almost invisible owing to heavy lights penetrating our eyes from the opposite direction.  Though it can hurt the religious sentiments, of a few, I think a strict rule should be enforced not permitting pedestrians to use the highway. This is in view of their own safety. Just like a rule of wearing helmet and seat belt is introduced for the traveller’s safety, if a rule like this is introduced, it can take care of the pedestrian safety.

One of the strange signals, I often notice is that the drivers put on the right indicator, as a sign of allowing the vehicle behind to overtake. This is in total contrast to what we have been taught - use your right indicator, when you are going to turn right and use your left indicator when you are going to turn left. I don’t know from where these drivers learnt this wrong signaling. Somehow it has got messed up and what is more disheartening is as days go by, more and more people are following the same trend. If these mistakes are not corrected, people will tend to assume it is the right behavior and continue to do so. And at some point of time, this may become the default rule.

My friend Prabu, told me that there is a simple thumb rule to using indicators, while driving and that is, as a driver you are expected to just indicate what you are going to do, and not indicate what you want others to do. If people can remember this thumb rule, I think a lot of confusion could be saved.

In short, the roads look like a jungle, where every encounter is threatening. There is absolutely no peace of mind, for the traveller.  Every moment on the highway, looks risky. So how do we get over this dangerous phase of transition? Well, I guess the only way could be by re-educating the road users, i.e the drivers.

When computers were introduced in India 15 years back, it was totally new and not many people knew how to operate it. The government had to take great effort in educating people, as to how computers should be used to enhance work efficiency.  Similarly, now that the new multi track highways are constructed, there is need to educate the drivers how to use these roads. The Indian driver is not used to these types of roads, and it is obvious that he does not know how to use it. So, I think it is the duty of the Government, to educate the people, how to drive in these highways, through the many RTO’s located in each city.

The drivers need to be educated that, on a four track road, you need to always keep left and overtake in the right.  On a six track or a futuristic eight track road, every track  becomes a different speed lane and you need to stick to the lane based on the speed at which you are driving.  Now that the drivers are not aware, they seem to be happily using the plenty of available road space, as they wish. There is no system followed in maintaining lanes or overtaking, which could be dangerous and prove fatal.

In my opinion, I think the RTO should call for a revalidation of all existing driving licenses. In the process of revalidating the license, the license holder/driver has to be taught how to use the new type of roads, for his safety and for the safety of fellow road users. They not only need to be updated on these information, but also taught to develop a caring and friendly attitude towards fellow road users.

Let us not pray, but work, for road safety.

Happy Reading,

D.Senthil Kannan

Article dated May 2010