Licensed to Kill

Driving on Indian roads has never been a great pleasure but having people who either do not know how to drive or have scant regard for fellow drivers compounds to it. The reason for this is not too far to seek. These so called drivers have obtained license not by knowing driving or rules but having contacts with the right "intermediaries"!

I am not a very keen driver but have been on the highways a couple of times in the recent past. I realise that roads are of standards that compare well but the absolute lack of discipline is appalling. The heavy vehicles will invariably be driving on the lane intended for lighter vehicles. You will have lorries and tractors coming on the wrong side as the driver wants to avoid the trouble of going and taking a U turn. Users paying toll charges would expect not only good roads but safety as well.

Coming back to the issue, the largest source of problems is the indiscriminate issue of driving licenses and if we are in the position to control that at an early stage, road safety would be very high. I wonder as to why there is no concrete measure to exercise greater control. It is not rocket science or does not require enactments like the Right to Information Act to conclude that the department is a virtual cesspool of corruption and touts.

Having got the license, the user (I shall avoid using the terms driver, as does not know to drive) goes about using it road with absolute impunity as he knows tha there is hardly a system to monitor the same. The less said the better about policing on the roads. The levy of penalty is so paltry and the constable is least interested in going through the process and would rather pocket a percentage of the fine! Corporates would do well to learn on this part of the win-win situation. Even in a worst case scenario, if the person's license is impounded it would be easier and cheaper to obtain a fresh one rather can going back through the legal system. There is no way on stop the menance of multiple licenses and one only hope that Mr. Nandan Nilenkani and team address this through the prestigious UIN Project!

The government would do well to privatise the monitoring of traffic signals to unemployed youth! The government and police could through the process of bidding share the revenue of installing cameras as intersections. Alternatively, the traffic offenders should be asked to monitor othe offenders till they book atleast 5 others to take over from them. This would be best form of community policing.

One is not sure if it is indifference or helplessness on the part of the police has led to the situation. I know of a recent case when a group of doctors had petition to the traffic department of recurring fatal accidents at a busy residential intersection. One more life was lost yesterday and by the end of the day the police had rushed into having speed breakers. While on the subject of speed breakers, it is noticed that police department have erected speed barriers on the roads and many a times that appears to be a greater source of threat than speeding itself. Innovative marketeers have found a way to advertise on those barriers to blinding the view further.

The need to reduce the number of vehicles is a known factor but that is not going to happen until the public transport system takes some burden. The drivers of the public transport system are lords of the road and reigning them in appears to be impossible task. The political class would do well in handling polcy issues (assuming that they do) and let these small issues to dealt with by the process of law.

Till then happy and safe driving!