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Undoing the traffic blues

By Dr Imran Nabi Dar. Dated: 8/31/2015 2:50:51 PM

The present day society you and I inhabit is not an ideal one. Perhaps no society is. But ours unfortunately lags behind in most areas which directly impact the quality and comfort of our daily lives. With a long list of ailing sectors crying out for immediate attention, and awaiting their turn to be addressed, it is high time for a serious overhaul and an action oriented change for the better. Both on the part of the authorities and the common citizen. This change has to be a collaborative and concerted effort if it has to succeed.
Since in a few days from now I am participating in a "Defensive Driving" awareness campaign conducted by an organization I work for as a consultant, I would like to share my ideas with you about how things stand and what possibly could be done to change them. According to a recent report published in the local newspapers, doctors have reported a 20 per cent increase in the number of patients visiting their OPD's. This is a staggering sum. And all due to our miserably potholed roads. It breaks his break further along with his resolve not to mention the overall work efficiency of the affected individual. Be it an office goer, a shopkeeper or a home maker, whether commuting in a luxury sedan or the iconic 407 all of us are at the receiving end. A prime example being the Jehangir Chowk-Ram Bagh flyover which will hopefully in the future ease the amount of traffic on this sector of our chockablock roads. And now when you see the roads being macadamized overnight on a war footing you are left to wonder what took the concerned department so long to act. Never too late though. And as our respected CM has personally met and invited Bollywood biggies to shoot in the valley, let us make sure that when they arrive they don't have to face the same inconvenience we as Kashmiris do. For even super heroes are susceptible to back aches not to talk about their comparatively fragile heroines.
Smooth traffic and the ease or unease with which a commuter travels on a regular basis has a direct impact on the person's mental, physical and emotional well being and stress levels. One can only hope that things get better in the coming days and also the quality of macadamisation is not the customary patch work kind of 'Belladonna Strip' intervention as it is sardonically referred to but something which will stand the test of time and inclement weather. We are facing an acute shortage of policemen manning our traffic. And those who do so are usually overworked.
A glance now at we the people. For starters we are bad at following rules be tying of seat belt or talking while driving which along with drunken driving is one of the leading causes of accidents worldwide. Not to talk of drivers' etiquette towards the pedestrians and fellow motorists especially women folk who are wrongly targeted by males for their lack of driving skills. If nothing women are more responsible and careful than their male counterparts. Zebra crossings which aren't meant for any particular breed of animal but hapless humans trying to find their way safely across the road need to be more prominent also achievable by not hiding them under our vehicles as we wait for the green light. What we usually notice at the Traffic Signal is a study in extreme impatience where even a one minute halt makes us see red as we rush like a formula one driver to beat the light.
My favourite grouse though is with our horn happy motorist honking and as if the rest of us have an hearing impairment which we shall definitely acquire if we let them go on with their merry ways. Appreciate any feedback regarding the spike in number of people visiting the ENT OPD's with their ear drums shattered, aching and over sensitive. Use of horn is sometimes unavoidable and necessary but to try and a create a symphony like Beethoven is taking it a little too far. Somebody please remove these horrible 'musical horns' which the truck wallahs use as if showcasing their own talent as a composer. More parking lots are needed to prevent parking at wrong places though many do so with scant respect for the inconvenience caused. Someone may need to go to the hospital to deliver a baby or donate blood to a patient .You could save a life by leaving room for their vehicle instead of blocking it. A VIP cavalcade with their arm waving and aggressive looking band of security guards can also pitch in to help by toning it down a bit and not make it seem like they are fleeing under the threat of an imminent attack.
We can remain with the status quo or opt for change. A change which could mean a quieter, calmer and a more organised city blending well with its beautiful landscape. The change could also mean a drastic decrease in the number of accidents, less road rage and precious lives saved. The choice as always is ours.And our time starts NOW.
(Writer is a practising dentist and a language trainer (dr.imran.dar@gmail.com)