Difficulties in driving in Dhaka city
Sunday, 31 October 2010
S. M. Nasimul Haque
DISCIPLINED driving does not seem possible in Bangladesh any more. Those who ply the roads do not also realize the implications of not driving in orderly fashion or conduct themselves in a fashion which will not cause inconvenience to others. Even, those who monitor the flow of traffic (traffic sergeants and police) do not seem to understand what is the meaning or requirement of speed and its effects. So, what we have in hand are under- groomed people on the streets.
After our independence the general trend among the people was not to follow any rules, procedures, directives and orders. Arrogance and indiscipline became the order of the day. Nobody seemed to understand the implication of such an attitude. It is something like allowing a small boy to do whatever, however and wherever he pleases, nobody is to bother or correct him. Our observation about people in general in Bangladesh is that, everybody seem to be in a rush when on the road, to reach his or her destination at all cost, meaning causing discomfiture to others. And during the tenure of a particular political party, all discipline of the general people, law enforcing agencies, cars and busses, rickshaws and baby taxis goes berserk. It is like an unruly family without a head.
Easy and smooth communication is imperative for development and economy of any nation. For that, orderly fashion is a must. The traffic speed in London was 15 miles per hour (during horse carriage days) about two hundred years back and even with scientific advancements it is still the same but never became stagnant like ours. Example of our next-door neighbour and the city of Kolkata can be taken. The general masses abide by the rules and conduct themselves as is desired for good outcome. They also have variable speed traffic but they manage well. The idiosyncrasies by our people on the road delays meetings, appointments, transportation of goods to different places etc. Sometimes, for ill management, a ten minutes' distance takes over an hour to reach. It is a very unpredictable situation on the roads. In developed countries, people with awareness co-operate not only to be abiding citizens but they also to understand the implications and benefit of being disciplined.
Only in Bangladesh people do ply -- also on the wrong side of the road, as a right. We see in documentaries that criminals and drug addicts drive in the wrong direction of highways and other roads, as a crime but not on a regular basis. We have varied speed transports. This creates impediment to the flow of traffic. We have people and transportations zigzags to change lanes to go first, further creating impediment to the flow. We see people (pedestrians) crossing roads when the signal light is green for the vehicles only, creating impediment to the flow of traffic. It is not uncommon to see a traffic sergeant park his motorcycle in the (almost) middle of the road to catch any vehicle to check on his papers etc., or have a hullabaloo with his buddies for sometime. This is also creating impediment to the flow of traffic. We are used to seeing the very law enforcing agencies plying on the wrong lane and direction as a matter of right, on or off duty. We see cars, buses, vans, trucks and rickshaws parked on the street where there is no parking. This slows down traffic. Zebra crossings are never used and their status is not understood either by the drivers or the pedestrians. The saddest of all is when the law enforcing officers over ride the signal lights at their whims or try to satisfy the CIPs and VIPs.
Difficulties in driving, as observed by me, are as follows:
a) Rickshaws and bicycles ply without any warning light at night;
b) Rich people's spoilt brats empty their cars of foils of chips and empty coke bottles, water bottles and used tissues on the road. We have also seen the elders do it;
c) It is a normal practice to drive transports with head light beamed into the opposite cars, making it difficult to see the roads and objects;
d) Steel beams and angles are protruding out to damage the wheels, not to forget the steel barriers choking the road in the name of security check and intimidating general mass;
e) Manholes are left open with their covers missing and have no warning signal. Potholes are plenty. There is no marking for speed breaks;
f) Busses, trucks and other larger vehicles ply wherever they please, meaning all lanes;
g) Most drivers with license have no formal grooming or education on road discipline. They drive as they see fit or needed;
h) Buses stop on turnings blocking the road;
i) Signal lights are not uniform in timing;
j) Cars and busses go transversely on a signal light blocking others. Lane sense is completely missing;
k) No traffic stops on a red signal and no amount of traffic police or sergeants can do anything about it. And when they stop, they cross the line and occupy half of the other side road, creating impediment to flow of traffic;
l) Busses, ambulances and rickshaws do not have dedicated tracks for plying;
m) People are not made to adhere to the directives;
n) Roadside signboards are not visible because of trees and plants;
o) Transports ply without the back/brake lights and with improper number plates;
p) Traffic police and sergeants, to show that they are doing their job, stop vehicles on the middle of the road, whenever;
q) Pedestrians, as a right and total disregard to the speed of the vehicle, ushers the transports to stop so that they can cross from any part of the road.
r) Construction materials are piled on the road;
s) Queuing on the road for gas and fuel goes on blocking others; and
t) People walk through the square in leisure as if they are strolling in Tiananmen Sq.
u) Buses stop wherever they please to take or disembark passengers.
v) Islands and dividers are improper, as traffic of all sorts violate the purpose out of hurry and temptation to beat the system. Examples can be cited here about the situation at Firm Gate and Bijoy Shoroni.
The list will go on and on as others will also have points to contribute. But what is the solution? Solutions are many but who is going to listen to and implement the needed measures? It is the job of the all reigning governments and they will have to realise it themselves first. They will have to develop awareness not only amongst themselves also among but the general mass, the law enforcing agencies as well. First and foremost they will have to have the intent to do good for posterity. They have to enforce strict adherence to rules and directives without exceptions. General people and the. law enforcing agencies have to be groomed before putting them on the road or giving licenses. Stiff fines must be imposed so that people do not repeat idiocies. Dedicated lanes need to be created for buses, ambulances and rickshaws. A one-way traffic system has to be tried and implemented to avoid congestion. The barricades need to be taken off from the roads that are a hindrance to normal flow of traffic by creating bottlenecks.
Furthermore, traffic police personnel must not be allowed traffic police to override the light signal except in case of emergency. Buses should be stopped from plying with doors open and should be stopped from collecting or alighting passengers from other than specified stoppages. More flyovers should be built for better flow of traffic like Thailand. And for that, an extra highway charge like the Jomuna surcharge may be collected from all over the country. And with this money any government should be able to build elevated freeways from Tetulia to Technaf and Sylhet to Shatkhira or Khulna. This will help develop the economy at a faster pace.
There will be a lot of external agencies who would not like these activities or economic developments and hence will create hindrance. But that is for a healthy and sensible government to decide.
The dam around Dhaka should be used for traffic, diversions by building double track circular train. The bus terminals should be taken outside this circular track. A crisscross of monorail should be put in place to save money or cost of underground railway, along with the hassle involved, and we get tempted to write, the nuisance involved. If possible, there should be uniform speed traffic. The road sides of illegal dwellings, parking, dumping and mobile shops should be cleared. The bus stops and taxi stands should be fixed, with provisions for strict compliance. Traffic lights must be adhered to, and there should not be separate police signals. These are some of the suggestions that cross our mind at this time. I am sure some there will be others with brighter ones.
We all need to streamline this traffic system for our own good, the nation's good and for our posterity. Imagine going from Tetulia to Technaf in less than eight hours. Possible? You bet it is.
Capt. S. M. Nasimul Haque (Rtd.) is a former President of Bangladesh Airline Pilots' Association.
DISCIPLINED driving does not seem possible in Bangladesh any more. Those who ply the roads do not also realize the implications of not driving in orderly fashion or conduct themselves in a fashion which will not cause inconvenience to others. Even, those who monitor the flow of traffic (traffic sergeants and police) do not seem to understand what is the meaning or requirement of speed and its effects. So, what we have in hand are under- groomed people on the streets.
After our independence the general trend among the people was not to follow any rules, procedures, directives and orders. Arrogance and indiscipline became the order of the day. Nobody seemed to understand the implication of such an attitude. It is something like allowing a small boy to do whatever, however and wherever he pleases, nobody is to bother or correct him. Our observation about people in general in Bangladesh is that, everybody seem to be in a rush when on the road, to reach his or her destination at all cost, meaning causing discomfiture to others. And during the tenure of a particular political party, all discipline of the general people, law enforcing agencies, cars and busses, rickshaws and baby taxis goes berserk. It is like an unruly family without a head.
Easy and smooth communication is imperative for development and economy of any nation. For that, orderly fashion is a must. The traffic speed in London was 15 miles per hour (during horse carriage days) about two hundred years back and even with scientific advancements it is still the same but never became stagnant like ours. Example of our next-door neighbour and the city of Kolkata can be taken. The general masses abide by the rules and conduct themselves as is desired for good outcome. They also have variable speed traffic but they manage well. The idiosyncrasies by our people on the road delays meetings, appointments, transportation of goods to different places etc. Sometimes, for ill management, a ten minutes' distance takes over an hour to reach. It is a very unpredictable situation on the roads. In developed countries, people with awareness co-operate not only to be abiding citizens but they also to understand the implications and benefit of being disciplined.
Only in Bangladesh people do ply -- also on the wrong side of the road, as a right. We see in documentaries that criminals and drug addicts drive in the wrong direction of highways and other roads, as a crime but not on a regular basis. We have varied speed transports. This creates impediment to the flow of traffic. We have people and transportations zigzags to change lanes to go first, further creating impediment to the flow. We see people (pedestrians) crossing roads when the signal light is green for the vehicles only, creating impediment to the flow of traffic. It is not uncommon to see a traffic sergeant park his motorcycle in the (almost) middle of the road to catch any vehicle to check on his papers etc., or have a hullabaloo with his buddies for sometime. This is also creating impediment to the flow of traffic. We are used to seeing the very law enforcing agencies plying on the wrong lane and direction as a matter of right, on or off duty. We see cars, buses, vans, trucks and rickshaws parked on the street where there is no parking. This slows down traffic. Zebra crossings are never used and their status is not understood either by the drivers or the pedestrians. The saddest of all is when the law enforcing officers over ride the signal lights at their whims or try to satisfy the CIPs and VIPs.
Difficulties in driving, as observed by me, are as follows:
a) Rickshaws and bicycles ply without any warning light at night;
b) Rich people's spoilt brats empty their cars of foils of chips and empty coke bottles, water bottles and used tissues on the road. We have also seen the elders do it;
c) It is a normal practice to drive transports with head light beamed into the opposite cars, making it difficult to see the roads and objects;
d) Steel beams and angles are protruding out to damage the wheels, not to forget the steel barriers choking the road in the name of security check and intimidating general mass;
e) Manholes are left open with their covers missing and have no warning signal. Potholes are plenty. There is no marking for speed breaks;
f) Busses, trucks and other larger vehicles ply wherever they please, meaning all lanes;
g) Most drivers with license have no formal grooming or education on road discipline. They drive as they see fit or needed;
h) Buses stop on turnings blocking the road;
i) Signal lights are not uniform in timing;
j) Cars and busses go transversely on a signal light blocking others. Lane sense is completely missing;
k) No traffic stops on a red signal and no amount of traffic police or sergeants can do anything about it. And when they stop, they cross the line and occupy half of the other side road, creating impediment to flow of traffic;
l) Busses, ambulances and rickshaws do not have dedicated tracks for plying;
m) People are not made to adhere to the directives;
n) Roadside signboards are not visible because of trees and plants;
o) Transports ply without the back/brake lights and with improper number plates;
p) Traffic police and sergeants, to show that they are doing their job, stop vehicles on the middle of the road, whenever;
q) Pedestrians, as a right and total disregard to the speed of the vehicle, ushers the transports to stop so that they can cross from any part of the road.
r) Construction materials are piled on the road;
s) Queuing on the road for gas and fuel goes on blocking others; and
t) People walk through the square in leisure as if they are strolling in Tiananmen Sq.
u) Buses stop wherever they please to take or disembark passengers.
v) Islands and dividers are improper, as traffic of all sorts violate the purpose out of hurry and temptation to beat the system. Examples can be cited here about the situation at Firm Gate and Bijoy Shoroni.
The list will go on and on as others will also have points to contribute. But what is the solution? Solutions are many but who is going to listen to and implement the needed measures? It is the job of the all reigning governments and they will have to realise it themselves first. They will have to develop awareness not only amongst themselves also among but the general mass, the law enforcing agencies as well. First and foremost they will have to have the intent to do good for posterity. They have to enforce strict adherence to rules and directives without exceptions. General people and the. law enforcing agencies have to be groomed before putting them on the road or giving licenses. Stiff fines must be imposed so that people do not repeat idiocies. Dedicated lanes need to be created for buses, ambulances and rickshaws. A one-way traffic system has to be tried and implemented to avoid congestion. The barricades need to be taken off from the roads that are a hindrance to normal flow of traffic by creating bottlenecks.
Furthermore, traffic police personnel must not be allowed traffic police to override the light signal except in case of emergency. Buses should be stopped from plying with doors open and should be stopped from collecting or alighting passengers from other than specified stoppages. More flyovers should be built for better flow of traffic like Thailand. And for that, an extra highway charge like the Jomuna surcharge may be collected from all over the country. And with this money any government should be able to build elevated freeways from Tetulia to Technaf and Sylhet to Shatkhira or Khulna. This will help develop the economy at a faster pace.
There will be a lot of external agencies who would not like these activities or economic developments and hence will create hindrance. But that is for a healthy and sensible government to decide.
The dam around Dhaka should be used for traffic, diversions by building double track circular train. The bus terminals should be taken outside this circular track. A crisscross of monorail should be put in place to save money or cost of underground railway, along with the hassle involved, and we get tempted to write, the nuisance involved. If possible, there should be uniform speed traffic. The road sides of illegal dwellings, parking, dumping and mobile shops should be cleared. The bus stops and taxi stands should be fixed, with provisions for strict compliance. Traffic lights must be adhered to, and there should not be separate police signals. These are some of the suggestions that cross our mind at this time. I am sure some there will be others with brighter ones.
We all need to streamline this traffic system for our own good, the nation's good and for our posterity. Imagine going from Tetulia to Technaf in less than eight hours. Possible? You bet it is.
Capt. S. M. Nasimul Haque (Rtd.) is a former President of Bangladesh Airline Pilots' Association.