Traffic

Just had a meal and dropped out of the air conditioned office (its just not for me), to get some fresh air, see the sun and come back to humanity. Slowly looking at all the traffic passing by, bumper to bumper, all in their own worlds; having to reach places and important meetings, to an occasion, late for a meeting and the usual confusion – the roads were choc a blok with traffic, increase with schools starting.
Every road I take in the morning is blocked, resounding with honking and silent grumbles (havent seen one smile from a commuter mind you, I keep wondering who they take it out on at work). Bangalore roads are fast becoming one way shortcuts to our final destinations.
Everytime I hear what could be done, the apathy of traffic control, the corruptness of the regulators and a hundred other reasons, but hold on, isn’t it me who is driving, am I not the one behind the 2 wheeler or four wheeler? So if I drive safe, follow traffic rules and stick to my lane… u mean I can actually get where ever I am going in time, with a smile on my face. Wow, how come I’m not doing that? Ok ok I’ll get out of the sarcasms and ideology and look at something more realistic. Raising awareness and bringing a level of conscious approach from each individual in this matter.
There are a few NGO’s who are trying to work out something working closely with the traffic authorities but can we not do more?
I dont want to suggest a traffic policing by volunteers because its just a short term solution. Instead bringing about awareness of what one can do to ease a jam, 5 do's and dont's when you are stuck in traffic etc. In the end, it will change only when it comes from within.
Possibilities:
- Have bumper stickers with safety messages
- Would tying up with car manufacturers or even service centers be too far fetched? I mean if i can have a 'Drive carefully, our dear ones might be crossing the road' sticker next to a 'My next car is a Swift' sticker (nothing against Maruti, its the most common one I've seen (and of course the service centre stickers).
- Make it cool to have a 'I Care' sticker on your car (like the 'Coorg Wildlife' sticker). Associate the 'I Care' with something specific like a traffic campaign. It should be specific only for retention in the mind or as they say mindspace.
- Each car serviced by a showroom to get a pamphlet with safety messages or driving tips.
I found the giving the rose and pamphlet exercise on MG road very unique (done for road safety) but it could be only a limiited activity. Even images with accidents with half mutilatd bodies lost its edge after the first few weeks, yes we are thick skinned when it comes to you bringing your vehicle into my driving lane.
- Viral Marketing - use forwards as a medium to spread awareness, its probably the most wide reaching free publicity activity after word of mouth. (Apologies for being so blunt but how many fwd's of Infosys Infrastructure have you seen?)