Paying heed to road signs
By H.Kishie Singh

IT is a matter of great concern and shame that the Chandigarh police has put up a huge hoarding depicting road signs in Sector 17.

This means that our drivers need to be educated about the very basics of traffic rules. If these signs are not followed, roads can get choked, blocked, jammed and hazardous. And that is exactly what they are today.

Cars don’t create traffic jams, people do! The reasons are obvious. People who drive cars consider themselves a breed apart, a cut above every other road user, until they come up against a bus or truck.

A car has a profound effect on a person. Fire up the engine, go vroom-vroom a couple of times and the adrenaline begins to sprint through the body. Suddenly the mouse that walked down the corridor becomes a tiger. Zipping down the street is a heady feeling. Even the soapdish-sized Maruti 800 has a Jesse Owens sprint quality. So easy to overtake on the left. That’s why everyone does it, not realising that it is a patently dangerous and wrong move.

                                         
          Two of the most important directives for a driver are the ‘No Parking’ and ‘Stop’ signs

Studies have shown that it is the so-called elite in India who break rules. Indians are known for breaking queues, be it at the bus stop, railway station or the O.P.D. in a hospital. This attitude is displayed by car drivers too. Why should a driver have to wait? At every opportunity he zig-zags his way to the front, especially at traffic lights. He must overtake the car in the front, even if it means he has to slam on the brakes immediately because the rotary or red light is only 50 metres away. This is simply bad driving and is also tough on the driver as it builds fatigue. It’s even tougher on the car. This type of driving will take its toll on the brakes, clutch and tyres over the kilometres. The immediate result will be poor fuel economy.

Two of the most important signs for a driver are the ‘No Parking’ and ‘Stop’ signs. To park where no parking is allowed means you are impeding the free flow of traffic. You have gone out of your way to create a traffic jam. Why? You would never do this abroad.

The reason that road traffic in Europe and North America is so disciplined and orderly is that the drivers there are well behaved, love their lives and respect the police. Nowhere in the world will a driver be found arguing with a traffic policeman. That is the order of the day. But here drivers feel indignant if a policeman stops them.

If you endanger yourself and others while driving, the government is obliged to step in and ensure safety on the road.

One sign that is put up for your personal safety is the ‘Stop’ sign. When a driver enters a major road he is obliged to stop, i.e. come to a dead halt, engage first gear, look left and right and after having made sure he will be not cutting across fast moving traffic, move on.

The reason is simple. The driver on the major road is moving at a faster pace, he needs a longer stopping distance. You, on a minor road, are slower and have to do a 90 degree turn, left or right so it is your duty to stop and let the other vehicle pass.

While driving abroad pay special attention to both ‘No Parking’ and ‘Stop’ signs. If you park your car at the ‘No Parking sign you could lose your car — it could be towed away. To get it back can be a time-consuming and expensive affair. If you go through a ‘Stop’ sign, you could lose your driving licence. No more driving for the rest of your holiday.

Start by paying attention to these signs at home and make the roads safer places where motoring can be fun.

Happy motoring!