This year started with the awful news of a 27-year-old motorist killing a policeman conducting breathalyser tests on Marine Drive. However, the police claim that the drunk driving cases are decreasing. They may be right, since the department has been conducting drives against inebriated motorists.
However, there are disturbing signs, because traffic violations are on the rise. Rash driving, jumping signals and disregarding sign boards are a major problem.
Some motorists refuse to respect the zebra crossing and stop their vehicles on the lines meant for pedestrians to cross. In the process, the commuters are feeling the pinch.
Over the years, there have been a huge increase in the number of vehicles and pedestrians, but the road space has remained constant in addition to that, encroachments have constricted road area.
As a result of this, vehicles and people are competing for the same area. This calls for a complete overhaul of the system. We need a system that befits the megapolis. There must be better implementation of traffic regulations, especially at signal crossings.
There must be better advance warning about free turns. They must also plug defunct traffic signals at the earliest. To avoid distracting motorists, there must be a heavy penalty for jay-walking and all advertisement hoardings at junctions must be pulled down. Thane city is planning a cycling lane, similar novel methods of transportation can be implemented in the city and suburbs.
The police can upgrade its infrastructure and have more CCTV
cameras to spot errant motorists.
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