The big mad rush

Commuting on Goan roads is no easy task these days!

It has become an essay where roads have become the natural settings for the exhibition of a wide spectrum of expressions, some amusing, while others tend to go off-hand leading to some destructive and harmful actions.

However, the quirks that characterize modern traffic are no justifications for the big mad rush that is an everyday occurrence on our roads and highways.

Factors like congestion or driver frustration do not excuse dangerous driving habits or the pervasive rush to get somewhere in a few minutes faster. Safe driving practices and patience remain crucial for road safety, regardless of the circumstances.

Yet, this is one cardinal rule that is forsaken the moment one gets on behind the steering wheel. It does appear that awareness campaigns do not serve to educate people that violation of traffic rules has a ripple effect that impacts the entire community.

It is a common observation that drivers are too often overwhelmed by a range of idiosyncrasies while on the roads.

These ‘eccentricities’ can be broadly categorized into dangerous or aggressive driving behaviours, lack of situational awareness which amounts to distraction, and violations of basic road courtesy and rules.

Such peculiarities are often a result of emotions like impatience and anger, or a psychological bias where drivers believe they are more skilled than average and that rules apply more to others than themselves.

Goa boasts of an exceptionally high per capita vehicle ownership.

The combination of a saturated market and intense competitive pressure forces automobile companies to consistently provide attractive offers to capture consumer interest and drive sales in the state.

But two-and-four wheelers vying for garage space in almost all residential complexes forcing owners to park them along road shoulders is however a blot on the landscape, figuratively speaking.

Even bungalow-owners opting to park their vehicles outside their houses despite having garages to accommodate them, serves to be a peculiarity that is so typical of the locals.

The news that motorists in Goa must now complete an interactive driver sensitization module before obtaining or renewing their licences does make for interesting reading. Designed to improve road safety, the module aims to raise awareness about the consequences of reckless driving.

But will such initiatives have the desired effect considering the penchant shown by the commuting traffic to treat roads as their personal turfs! This behaviour often manifests as a lack of consideration for other road users and complete disregard for established traffic rules and safety protocols.

‘Right of way’ is the legal privilege of a road user to proceed in a lawful manner, with commuters needing to understand and follow these rules to ensure road safety and order.

Key rules include yielding to traffic at intersections or stop signs, giving way to pedestrians at crossings, and allowing faster traffic to overtake on the correct side of the road. Understanding and respecting right of way, whether at an intersection or for pedestrian access, is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring smooth traffic flow for all commuters.

Yet, the vehicular movement around traffic signals conveys a totally contradictory picture. The presence of pedestrians further intensifies an already confused and chaotic situation. 

But of late it is the two-wheeler ‘battalion’ which is keeping pace with everything that is obnoxious about commuting.

In Goa, as elsewhere in the country, two-wheelers are the favoured mode of transportation due to their affordability, fuel efficiency, and manoeuvrability through congested areas.

However, the prevalence, combined with a lack of dedicated infrastructure and inconsistent enforcement of traffic laws, creates a challenging and often chaotic environment.

The result is that riders are highly vulnerable in traffic and account for a large percentage of road accident fatalities.

This class of commuters nonetheless persist with their road misdemeanours!

It is generally observed that two-wheelers at traffic signals tend to accumulate at the front of the queue, spread across at available space, and position themselves to filter through stopped or slow-moving traffic to facilitate an earlier, quicker discharge when the lights turn green.

This behaviour disrupts the intended ‘first-in-first-out’ traffic order. Moreover, the accumulation of two-wheelers in front of cars and buses can block the line of sight and hinder the movement of larger vehicles when the lights turn green leading to inefficient intersection clearance.

Besides, the ad-hoc use of road space by many two-wheelers as they form a dense at the stop line effectively narrows the available lanes for other vehicles, contributing to overall traffic jams and delays for everyone.

Two-wheelers weaving through the traffic to the front increase the risk of coalition with pedestrians walking across Zebra crossings and with other motors, especially during turning movements.

A rider/driver is bound to know that the ‘dipper’ switch is a standard and essential feature for road safety and legal compliance, allowing the rider to switch between the low beam (dipped) for normal riding and the high beam (upper) when necessary, such as on unlit roads, without blinding the oncoming traffic.

Yet, the very evident fondness for driving with high beams even on well-lit roads is a widespread problem for commuters. Driver inconsideration, more than anything else, stands out as the main reason for such behaviours on the roads.  

A belief that ‘more the light, more the safety’, has some drivers using high beams all the time to see farther ahead, not realizing that this temporarily blinds other drivers and actually increases the risk of accidents. ‘

Some drivers also use brighter, aftermarket lights that can appear to be high beamers’ even on a low setting, further exacerbating the issue.

Modern traffic is often described as ‘survival of the fittest’ due to the intense competition for limited road space, time pressure, and aggressive driver behaviour that mirror a struggle for existence in a challenging environment.

But simply put, driving should be a pleasant experience, not a torture!