The first vehicle I ever used was a bicycle. My father bought me a Rajdoot bike. And later he gifted me a second-hand Morris Minor. My father himself taught me driving. I was in Class VII. Soon, I started driving any vehicle I could lay my hands on. I drove a little rash. My father never reprimanded me for my fast driving, but would always say that slow driving is an art. “Once you have set the car in the perfect gear and just touch the accelerator, the car will just glide across the road. Drive in such a way that you always have control of the vehicle.”
That has stayed on in my mind ever since and I started practising it. Over the years, I have learnt to be a good driver, especially in Bengaluru. Yet, I am sometimes hassled by people who try and overtake you from the left, or want to cut you just to get through the green light.
I never bought a car just because I was crazy about speed, but always took the style of slow driving. The next car I was gifted by my father was a Maruti 800. After this, there was another car that ran on gas.
Now, I have a WagonR and Innova Crysta. The Innova Crysta is a sturdy car and I am comfortable with that vehicle. But now, I feel, is the worst period when it comes to traffic in the city. Everyone is in a hurry — be it dropping kids at school or work. No one seems to have control of their vehicle or emotions. I wish rules are brought in to control the autos and the yellow board taxis. I wish people will be kinder to children and elderly people while driving. Hope everyone will follow rules. I am not targeting them, but wish they would be more controlled on the roads with their style of driving.
We should not always blame the government; but if every individual takes responsibility, the city will be a better place to live and drive in. Accident rates are higher today than in the past. And when I see all that, I feel that our city has not been planned well. Not just controlling traffic, I wish they even control the vehicles that are polluting our city.
As told to Shilpa Sebastian R
