Traffic regulation

Our neighbouring country, not  known more for many progressive activities , has done something that may be worth emulating. As per reports on social media, under an intensive weeklong traffic drive in the city of Lahore, the authorities challaned 55 lakh violators, earning in the process a sizeable amount of PKR 300 crore. The numbers are mind boggling and are also reflective of the depth of the malaise. The report further says that the drive  is proving to be seemingly effective, even if temporarily.

We do come across such drives in our cities, but their deterrence for repeat as well as new offenders is low, if not altogether futile. How come in a city like Mumbai, years of convincing and penalising two wheeler drivers has not ensured 100% compliance for wearing helmets? In spite of several serious incidents of deaths and grievous injuries due to wrong side driving, why we are not able to stop such offenders? Why after so many years of little success in preventing signal violation, we have not been able to instal CCTVs, especially on important crossings? Why are the two wheelers outside the purview even if caught on CCTV for signal violation? Why can’t temporary personnel be deployed at every intersection where the “ right to cross first” results in massive jams? How the unauthorised parking and unauthorised pavement vendors be provided alternative spaces so that they don’t clog the traffic? 

Traffic management is not a one-off problem, but the one that has emerged a major issue relating to urban planning. The chaos on the road, apart from being a major nuisance has several social and economic consequences- road rage, fuel consumption, pollution etc. 

Incidentally, the above social media report also refreshed another post in my mind that I had penned a few days ago in connection with this “ten minutes assured delivery menace.” I wonder how will these delivery personnel fare if an intensive traffic drive like the one undertaken by our neighbour, is followed here too? In fact, one development aftermath the aforesaid post ( I am sure as an unrelated development ) has been inclusion of our more commodities under “ ten minutes delivery” category! 

It’s high time authorities bestow their serious attention to traffic management, which may simply be impossible without using technology.