Chaos on road and unruly traffic have become a way of life in Chennai. And, most of us have gotten used to this indiscipline on the roads. Every day we see rules being flouted, and indifference as vehicles speed by without waiting for pedestrians to cross. “The traffic has worsened over the years, and drivers nowadays have no consideration for others,” says Kumar, a driver who has been tackling the city’s roads for the last 14 years. As for two-wheeler riders, they make use of even a sliver of space to move ahead. Most of us don’t hesitate to honk away and push people and other vehicles into giving us way. Sasi who works in Maduravoyal says the traffic is the worst in the area between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and incidents of rash driving increase around then.
Since round-the-clock traffic surveillance and enforcement of rules may not be possible, as road users, we must take it upon ourselves to make roads safe for all of us.
With a little effort, it can be achieved. Here are a few do’s and don’ts.
* Be a safe driver, stop at pedestrian crossings
* Wear the seatbelt
* Give way to traffic on the right
* Slow down on turnings
* Do not talk on the phone while driving
* Take care while changing lanes * Honk only to avert danger
* Do not tailgate other vehicles
* Avoid using headlights in full beam in crowded areas
