By Maxwell Pereira
When I drive on roads abroad, my companions wonder why I go tense off and on. My inbuilt antennae alert my reflexes to the presence of an approaching vehicle from a side road, and so on. They tell me I should relax-that no vehicle from a side road would ever dare enter the main road till I have passed.
This is the confidence regarding other road users behaviour with which a normal driver drivers abroad. Here, you never know when the other road user is going to jump the red or violate other rules, be it in terms of the 'right of way' in particular situations, or just the callous attitude that makes the Indian driver compulsively ignore basic norms.
The concept of 'pehle aap' is never seen being practiced on the road. Rather, it's "Might is right" bulldozing into another's path, irrespective of the inconvenience, obstruction or danger we cause to the other by rudely and brutally coming in his path. That's why the police try during some of the traffic 'drivers' launched, to educate road users on aspects of the right of way. That in the "keep left" system of traffic movement that we practise, it is always the vehicle to your right which has preference.
Likewise, the one who is already negotiating the roundabout has priority over the one who is entering the roundabout from any of its approaches; and the vehicle entering a roundabout has to give way to the vehicle to its right already on the roundabout, to fall-in smoothly behind without causing any obstruction.
It is pathetic at times to note the state of road users ignorance about proper behaviour in various road situations - which leads to a large number of violent altercations on our roads. Unfortunately, this is mainly due to improper and inadequate education prior to obtaining a driving licence - with regard to road rules and regulations, driver etiquettes and behaviour. Hence, it is necessary to note some common guidelines to clear prevalent confusion among the public. Dr. Dinesh Mohan a road safety specialist of IIT points out that: -
| Unfortunately, this is mainly due to improper and inadequate education prior to obtaining a driving licence - with regard to road rules and regulations, driver etiquettes and behaviour |
i) In case of a rear impact, the rear vehicle will always be considered at fault. This is because driving instructions make it clear that you should maintain a safe braking distance.
ii) In case of sideswipe while overtaking, the vehicle overtaking from the left will be considered at fault.
iii) In any traffic situation, the vehicle on the wrong side of the road will be at fault. When there is no road divider (making or median), vehicles on the right half of the road proceeding the wrong way will be at fault. This applies to overtaking situations also.
iv) At the junction of a minor road with a major road, if there is a conflict or accident, the vehicle entering from the minor road will be considered at fault.
v) In the case of an impact between a road user and open door of a parked vehicle, the person opening the door will be at fault.
vi) At junctions and gaps in medians and pavements, where there are no road markings, you should occupy the left half of the gap or road. You will be at fault if you block the passage of others by standing on right half.
vii) In situations where traffic is heavy at nonsignalised junctions, those proceeding to the junction area without confidence that they can proceed through the junction and block cross traffic will be violating traffic rules.
viii) Assaulting anyone in situations of road rage, no matter what the provocation, is an offence and you can be charged for the same.
Only then perhaps, the practice of the three cardinal "C"s of road user behaviour - Care, Courtesy and Consideration, will not remain a pipedream.
© copyright : Maxwell Pereira
Courtesy Mid Day, dated July 31, 2002
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