New Delhi Times

Gaurav Bhatnagar reporting from New Delhi, India

laaton ke bhoot….

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There is a saying in Hindi – “laaton ke bhoot baaton se nahi maante”. This roughly translates to “force is the only option to cure some”. The original idiom is much more colorful but I am unable to capture it in English!

Anyway, I bring this up today because it looks like some “laaton ke bhoot” on Delhi roads have been cured almost overnight! Ever since traffic fines were increased 6-folds in the city, drivers (yours truly included) seem to have started behaving. Cops have gone in to overdrive in the last few days. You can find them on every intersection. Some even peer inside cars stopped at traffic lights to check if they can nab somebody talking on a cellphone or not wearing a seat belt. Its interesting how immediate the effect of increased traffic fines has been. Of course, it still remains to be seen how long this effect remains.

I think one of the reasons why people follow traffic rules more in the US (ok, I know they break rules too but we are talking in relative terms here) is because traffic fines are very heavy and have long term consequences. Each offence shows up on your driving record and can cause your insurance rates to go up. Moreover, 3 offenses in a year and you lose your license! And God help you if you get caught for DUI (driving under influence of alcohol). Delhi needs something similar. It is just too easy to get away committing traffic offenses here.

Traffic follows a classic “me too” pattern. You can observe this for yourself if you happen to be lucky enough (?) to be driving on Delhi roads. Approach a red light which people usually don’t stop on. You can find many such intersections in Noida, for example. Now as you approach the red light, make sure to stop well before the stop line. You will notice a couple of cars zip by jumping the red light anyway. But then, almost certainly, everybody else will stop and wait for the light to turn green. This happens for me every time. I find it pretty amusing. The fact that you stopped on a red light sends out a signal to everybody else that perhaps this guy has spotted a cop somewhere around here. I doubt if it occurs to anybody that I might just be following the traffic rules!

Written by gaurav

April 16th, 2007 at 1:33 am

Posted in India

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  • http://swaroop.in Swaroop

    I always believe in adaptation. :)
    When such rules are enforced on Nature(the gen public here). it adapt to suit the new need .. i dont know how.. but it does.. as always.. just like the humans survive in extreme temperatures (. and blah .. blah).
    So i just sit back and wait for nature to adapt on its own :)
    p.s – i do jump red lights :) . without getting caught !

  • http://swaroop.in Swaroop

    I always believe in adaptation. :)
    When such rules are enforced on Nature(the gen public here). it adapt to suit the new need .. i dont know how.. but it does.. as always.. just like the humans survive in extreme temperatures (. and blah .. blah).
    So i just sit back and wait for nature to adapt on its own :)
    p.s – i do jump red lights :) . without getting caught !

  • http://twilightfairy.rediffblogs.com Twilight Fairy

    it’s even worse in some cases!! If you are the only rule following driver, stopping as the yellow light turns red or even when it’s ALREADY red..there would defi be some idiots honking from behind as if you have committed some idiocy! and then those, who expect you to jump lights and hence dont BRAKE! and come crashing into you?!! This can only happen in india :|

  • http://twilightfairy.rediffblogs.com Twilight Fairy

    it’s even worse in some cases!! If you are the only rule following driver, stopping as the yellow light turns red or even when it’s ALREADY red..there would defi be some idiots honking from behind as if you have committed some idiocy! and then those, who expect you to jump lights and hence dont BRAKE! and come crashing into you?!! This can only happen in india :|

  • Sarat

    You’re right. Heavy fines is the only solution, along with public education about such things as drunk driving, use of seat belts, etc.
    Not to sound like a doubting NRI, I am really worried about India’s near-term problems with accidents. New highways, faster speed, and very little driver education. Eventually driver awareness will catch up with the new potential for disaster.
    How is that NH8 project coming? And the metro in Gurgaon?

  • Sarat

    You’re right. Heavy fines is the only solution, along with public education about such things as drunk driving, use of seat belts, etc.
    Not to sound like a doubting NRI, I am really worried about India’s near-term problems with accidents. New highways, faster speed, and very little driver education. Eventually driver awareness will catch up with the new potential for disaster.
    How is that NH8 project coming? And the metro in Gurgaon?

  • http://www.newdelhitimes.org Gaurav

    Swaroop – I was like you once :-D but now i stop on red lights ;-)
    TF – you are spot on! In Delhi, sometimes its actually safer to not follow the rules!
    Sarat – the link between Delhi and Gurgaon on NH8 is now operational and it has made the commute much easier. I save more than hour of driving time now as compared to before. The work on metro is also in full swing. I think they are running on schedule. when are you planning to visit delhi?

  • http://www.newdelhitimes.org Gaurav

    Swaroop – I was like you once :-D but now i stop on red lights ;-)
    TF – you are spot on! In Delhi, sometimes its actually safer to not follow the rules!
    Sarat – the link between Delhi and Gurgaon on NH8 is now operational and it has made the commute much easier. I save more than hour of driving time now as compared to before. The work on metro is also in full swing. I think they are running on schedule. when are you planning to visit delhi?

  • http://www.paavani.in/blog Paavani

    By seeing road accidents everyday, I can only say it’s a good movement. Hope degree holder people be really educated and understand that a single person good actions can cause a lot. All this, it happen only in India and all make no sense, if you don’t knw how to behave by ownself.
    And there should be fine for pedestrian also, who Jump over heavy traffic roads, and don’t know how to use over bridge or subway! Just to save 2-3 minutes they don’t bother about own life.

  • http://www.paavani.in/blog Paavani

    By seeing road accidents everyday, I can only say it’s a good movement. Hope degree holder people be really educated and understand that a single person good actions can cause a lot. All this, it happen only in India and all make no sense, if you don’t knw how to behave by ownself.
    And there should be fine for pedestrian also, who Jump over heavy traffic roads, and don’t know how to use over bridge or subway! Just to save 2-3 minutes they don’t bother about own life.

  • Bratin

    I doubt if the new rules will cure the ills. Just the other day by mistake my wife entered a one way (she is relatively new in driving). Promptly she got stopped by the traffic cop & the question was “Should I write out a ‘challan’ of Rs1200? Or are you OK to pay Rs 600 only if I note the offence as a red light jump as the fine is cheaper? Or as you are a lady, I can be considerate towards you if you just pay ME Rs400″. By the way, that 400 is negotiable too.
    you forget that in US or UK, the salary of the cop is quite high as compared to the same ratio in India. So unless that basis condition is met, “nature will take its course” as rightly mentioned above by Swaroop.

  • Bratin

    I doubt if the new rules will cure the ills. Just the other day by mistake my wife entered a one way (she is relatively new in driving). Promptly she got stopped by the traffic cop & the question was “Should I write out a ‘challan’ of Rs1200? Or are you OK to pay Rs 600 only if I note the offence as a red light jump as the fine is cheaper? Or as you are a lady, I can be considerate towards you if you just pay ME Rs400″. By the way, that 400 is negotiable too.
    you forget that in US or UK, the salary of the cop is quite high as compared to the same ratio in India. So unless that basis condition is met, “nature will take its course” as rightly mentioned above by Swaroop.

  • http://www.yatra.com/AIR/cities/delhi.html delhi

    Hi,
    If you know about delhi, this site has good information, i was just searching on net and found that on this site one can book air tickets as well.

  • http://www.yatra.com/AIR/cities/delhi.html delhi

    Hi,
    If you know about delhi, this site has good information, i was just searching on net and found that on this site one can book air tickets as well.

  • Soni

    People follow rules in the west and have an organized society because they are better people. That’s the bottom line although no one wants to admit it, cause it makes them feel bad to know foreigners are better than them. But we can’t deny it. Society is a reflection of the people. The more I learn about my foreign friends, the more I see that they are generally better human beings than us Indians. Sad but true. We yearn to go to their society to experience a part of that quality of theirs that is so attractive and that we envy so much. Of course, this would not be admitted by any of us!…

  • Soni

    People follow rules in the west and have an organized society because they are better people. That’s the bottom line although no one wants to admit it, cause it makes them feel bad to know foreigners are better than them. But we can’t deny it. Society is a reflection of the people. The more I learn about my foreign friends, the more I see that they are generally better human beings than us Indians. Sad but true. We yearn to go to their society to experience a part of that quality of theirs that is so attractive and that we envy so much. Of course, this would not be admitted by any of us!…

  • seema

    hi this is seema undergoing trainee in triveni media limited.wel i really liked it whatever u have written here and thanks because of you i can really think what a good story is al about.thanks

  • seema

    hi this is seema undergoing trainee in triveni media limited.wel i really liked it whatever u have written here and thanks because of you i can really think what a good story is al about.thanks

  • virender

    Delhi traffic polices new rules to make more money from common man
    Now red light jumping is RS 600 , for all vehicles , a person running bike ,scoter earns 300 /per day . can u expect him to pay RS600 , or he will do his best to negotiate with constable . i have found that most of the red lights in some places are 50 times in no-working condition Eg. Okhla moad . and their will be not traffic person to control the traffic jam . but when the light is in working condition u will find 5 persons waiting to catch the prey . government should use digital cameras to make system clean . The way develop countries work .
    “BEWARE of DELHI TRAFFIC POLICE “ they are their for MONEY not for HELP .

  • virender

    Delhi traffic polices new rules to make more money from common man
    Now red light jumping is RS 600 , for all vehicles , a person running bike ,scoter earns 300 /per day . can u expect him to pay RS600 , or he will do his best to negotiate with constable . i have found that most of the red lights in some places are 50 times in no-working condition Eg. Okhla moad . and their will be not traffic person to control the traffic jam . but when the light is in working condition u will find 5 persons waiting to catch the prey . government should use digital cameras to make system clean . The way develop countries work .
    “BEWARE of DELHI TRAFFIC POLICE “ they are their for MONEY not for HELP .

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