Amber... now Red

In the intial years of my stay in Singapore, I hated the Bus drivers a lot. Normally I get into the public transport in a hurried fashion. The bus drivers never understood my urgency (to reach office in time) and used to stop at every signal & every bus-stop (!!!). Always they slowed down while approaching the junction, anticipating an amber signal. They used air-horns rarely and waited patiently one behind another.

.

These things were surprising to me (sometimes irritating), since it was absolutely contrary to my Chennai experience then. But slowly, I started loving that discipline. Reason, they were doing what they were supposed to do without violations. That road discipline streamlined the traffic better.

When the motorists do it, most of the pedestrians are also forced to follow rules for using the signals and platforms. That would be a cool sight when you are a driver. It makes you to drive freely (assuming you follow the rules as well). Most of the pedestrians follow, with exceptions (like those who used to cross the road in 'Little India' by weekends, even if there is no 'green' for them).

During my last trip to Chennai, I had observed that the discipline is worser than before, due to the explosion of no. of vehicles. Will 'Anniyan' do what the authorities were unable to do? (I mean disciplining the motorists). It would be hard to say.. since the authorities need to develop the infrastructure, remove platform occupancies and do a lot more first, before penalising those who don't follow rules.... I am still dreaming for it to happen.

140th post