After the relatively successful Free The Left Lane (FTLL) initiative, we are left thinking about the obvious question: What next?
I termed FTLL as "relatively successful" because for the 6 weeks that we were actively regulating the traffic, the traffic flow around CT was actually under control, primarily because of following one simple rule - keep the left lane free.
Now this proved that if the citizens wish to improve the traffic in Hyderabad, they can.
How can we sustain the momentum built up by FTLL?
In my opinion, in addition to changing people's mindsets about traffic rules, the traffic police should become strict with traffic offenders and start fining drivers who do not follow rules.
You could get fined for rash driving, using your mobile while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt/helmet. Punishments could range from monetary fines to revoking licenses or even community service (I don't know how that would work in India)
This would raise funds for the Traffic Police and these funds could be used for procurement of better equipment. Quite honestly, I would rather prefer that the fines collected be used to increase the Traffic Policemen's salaries. It is hard, strenuous work out there; try standing on the road for 2 hours in a day, you'll realise how tough it is for the Traffic Policemen.
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3 comments:
To the approver: Please use the updated comments below, there was a typo in my earlier post. Thanks
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So far I have just seen the FTLL initiative at the Cyber Towers - Hitec city only. I really like the idea of educating public on "Free The Left Turn", but does anyone cares or follows it?
Each day the traffic is increasing in Hyderabad (thanks to the IT industry). I travel about 44 kms daily between home and office. The distance is not a problem, but the traffic congestion at few places makes a horrible and painful drive.
People does not follow the traffic signals here, the traffic signals follow the people.
You will not be surprised to see the RTC busses and other heavy vehicles treading to the extreme left taking over even the footpath meant for the pedestrians. Where is the Left Lane left then?
To keep the Left Lane free, we must first have a Left Lane in place.
Relax at STOP lane... Many people in hyderabad just dont know where the stop lane is... They just come to the middle of the road as if they are yielding... This has blocked the traffic in all major junctions... The police are so nice here that they never bother even if someone is going in wrong direction in front of them.. They are very nice that they smile at people committing a serious traffic offence... Unless police are strict by levying fines the people are not going change...
I want to be an active participant of this group.. Can someone help me in that.
Thanks,
Srini
The police have to flex their muscles - people don't have any respect for the traffic policeman.In Mumbai the traffic dare not cross the stop-line when the policeman signals and pedestrians cross the streets at designated places without the fear of being mowed over!
People in Hyderabad have become boors,the old "tahajib" of yielding to others as a gesture of respect and camarderie has long been forgotten.What we have on the roads are uneducated autorickshaw-wallahs and educated autorickshaw-wallahs!
The least we can do to alleviate the conditions is to exercise some restraint on ourselves,follow the rules whether any body is watching or not - the people who don't fall in line will automatically be shamed into compliance,Some amount of Gandhigiri is called for here.
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