I can violate traffic rules, am a policeman!

What happens when enforcers become violators? I captured two snaps of this police vehicle that had stopped at the traffic signal way past the stop line. I was on my way with my friend in our car from Rahul theatre towards COEP at the Sancheti traffic signal.

This one is taken from the Sancheti side, facing the traffic signal. The Police toyota Qualis is seen clearly stopped a feet past the stop line. To the left you can see the front bumper of an Indica stopped before the stop line!
The second picture is the one I took of the license plate of the police Toyota, you can see the white stop line in this snap as well!




Now thats some police work!

Changing Traffic Signals

Typically in a law abiding state, with god fearing residents, we would expect the citizens, in this context, the vehicle riders and the pedestrians to abide by the law that mandates everyone to adhere to traffic rules. Pune seems to be hell bent to unlearn these habits. The numbers of such anti social commuters is low, but shows a gradual increasing trend.

I remember there were days when vehicles, as they approached a green light at a traffic signal would accelerate hoping to catch it green and thus avoid the one minute halt! Why people are still so worried at saving this one minute is a debatable question. The most logical answer seems to be the fact that they have convinced themselves, if not anyone else, that they are the busiest of living beings that dwell this city and that a loss of one minute is a life & death matter or a billion rupee risk! Whatever reasons, seeing a green light at the traffic signal made drivers speed up, hoping to pass the signal before it turned red!

Similarly, seeing a red light at the traffic signal, drivers would slow down their vehicles to stop at the zebra crossing. Those who were doing good speed would break hard, hoping to stop their vehicle before it hit the one in front. One would seldom hear screeching sound as a speeding rider applied his breaks on his 100cc bike that often wobbled before it came to a dead halt.

Things have changed! Perhaps because change is the essence of life! Not the fact that today we see 200cc bikes and lots of luxury cars with ABS and what not on the roads! The traffic signals are still very traditional red-amber-green, what has changed is the behavior at the traffic signals! It is now very opposite to how it was a decade back. It’s bad and shameful, yet satirical non the less.

Today, as a vehicle approaches a green light at a traffic signal, if the driver is doing good speed, his first reaction is to stop his acceleration. Strange but true! Yes, he stops accelerating. He has to survey the other intersecting roads to check how many vehicles continue to come from the other approach roads, blatantly ignoring the red signal in their line of path! Then if he is lucky, and the number of vehicles intersecting his path is less, he would proceed, cautiously though to avoid any collisions.

Similarly, these days seeing a red light at the traffic signal, well, it doesn’t mean much. Many riders have come to a conclusion that these traffic lights are mere source of entertainment for their young ones who might get cheered up at seeing the lights turning red to amber to green in a cyclic manner! Today’s riders are different! Very rich and polished, thanks to the country's booming economy! Seeing a red signal, they just give a cursory glance across the street to check for any traffic officer, who might once in a blue moon be waiting to nab the violators. But more often than not, there is no one manning these signals, and thus the riders meekly continue on their journey to hell-dome!

Today, once in a while, we still see a lone driver from the yester years. One who still for reasons beyond fathom, continues to follow the traditional practice of stopping at the red light! Such miscreants should be caught and sent to rehab centers where they will get trained to the new ways of life! For they do not understand, how much inconvenience they cause to others due to such erratic behavior! Imagine, as we continue to leisurely drive by a traffic signal, some stupid bloke stops right in front of you all of a sudden! We are hastily committed to break our drive! And if we are lucky, we are able to avoid a collision! And all this for what? Coz that loner decided to stop briskly seeing a red traffic light! May god bless such ignorant blokes for they shouldn't be allowed to drive their vehicles on roads if they haven't learnt the new ways!

Inculcating Self-Discipline

Many think that as ordinary citizens we can do very little to bring about the required change, but what we can ensure is that we at least do that 'little' that we can do. Only then can we demand the other authorities to take notice and act likewise.

We all get frustrated when we get stuck in a traffic jam in the mornings, when we have an important meeting to attend at the office. We get irritated when the 40mins drive turns into two hours long over drive!

We all unanimously blame the disorganized, inefficient and corrupt system that is in place; and the government officers and the traffic cops and the politicians for all the mismanagement and the current state of affairs; and also for not being able to manage the city traffic! Life in India is tough; especially when the population in the few hubs like Pune keeps increasing while the infrastructure is simply unable to cope up to the demand. Yes, we have been there, said it all, we lack honest politicians, city planners with a vision and the works; we need better and efficient governments, municipal corporations, better roads, smoother traffic systems, uninterrupted water and power supply, et al. We mock the 2020 vision of becoming a developed nation! We wish that only if the system changed!

But as the city continues to grow rapidly, there is an acute need for all its educated citizens to act responsibly and ethically. The city would not truly be 'developed' merely by adding a dozen multiplexes and shopping malls if the citizens themselves do not carry out their moral duties.

It is time for bringing about the change! And we need to change ourselves first! While blaming the system, we need pause and look deeper. Are WE all not part of the system? Are WE all doing our duties sincerely? Are WE only bound by our duties in our offices in the 9am to 5pm window? If we are so competitive and professional in our work (jobs) then why is it that we take our social duties for granted, often forget them, and blatantly flout the law whenever we see an opportunity?

Statistics shows that there is only about 50% voting turnaround in the urban areas. If we don't even exercise our voting rights, how can we demand the right politicians and better governance? How many times do we take notice of the red traffic signal, and duly stop before the zebra crossing or candidly take a left turn with a 'chelta hein' attitude with the signal is red? Do we not know these basic rules? Is it not obvious that all those annoying traffic jams would be avoided if only we did our bit correctly? We all marvel the west, but how often do we just roll down the windows and carelessly throw the chocolate and burger wrappers out on the streets?

Why do we need the police or the authorities to direct us for such simple things? How long will we continue to be so ignorant about our own actions/in-actions and at the same time expect the system to change? Would you listen to your neighbors request to turn down the volume of your hi-fi home theater systems when s/he himself is playing loud music and partying all night?

So take that first step today when you start to drive/ride your vehicles! It's time for all the educated Puneites to act morally to actively be part of that desired Intelligent Pune!