The mindset of a Bangalore driver

I am one of those million drivers in the streets of Bangalore. I feel less pride and more shame in being part of this community.

A lot is said about city's worst infrastructure woes in the past. The situation is improving these days compared to 2001 when i first arrived in this city. What is not changed is the mindset of this cities elite well educated drivers in the road.

Yesterday i happen to stay late in the new office and i faced enough ordeal reaching my home. it took me an hour and 1/2 to reach my home which normally takes 30 minutes if i had started on time. So many of them took platform service road (it was not ready, still people drove in it) and created more traffic jam. they never realized their attempt to go early was making many to wait and a win-loose situation. This mindset i can see everywhere in the city!! A win-loose behavior... this one makes me feel sad and rethink my options of staying here long term plan for this city.

In the last few weeks of travel, i have been analysing the pattern. Bangalore is not like chennai where we know people violate and chennai roads are big. Here roads are narrow (as like the mindset of the drivers). Here there are people who follow rules and there are people who don't. this adds to the chaos...

We have 2 categories of drivers who cause chaos, traffic jams and sometime an accident.

1. one who violates lane rules (most of 2 wheeler riders, cars, all trucks, all BMTC buses, cyclists and auto drivers)
2. one who goes slow in the wrong lane (i see beginners, girls do this often)

well the cost of an accident is huge (both mentally and financially). i have seen myself this in the case of Subbu when he was admitted for a reckless driving by an alcholic and he dashed subbu in a scooty (driven at 30KM). Subbu was in ICU for 3 days :(

We educated people in this city have been consciously attempting all these traffic violations.. when are we going to change? it is in the mindset of these city'es elite educational people!!!

fy entertainment... this happens in most junctions of this city...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luNwDf-BXZQ

Enjoy maadi

Until Next
Raghu