Need is dedicated traffic policing
Friday, 23 November 2007
Traffic department officials, if asked about the cause of traffic jams, say many things such as inadequate roads in the city and the absence of sufficient number of infrastructures including flyovers and expressways. But only more devoted traffic management by the traffic police and performing their job with enthusiasm and care can much alleviate the traffic-related agonies of the city's residents.
As it is, the traffic policemen are seen doing a very sloppy job, especially at the intersections with their hand signalling although there are signalling lights for doing this work. They tend to hold up traffic for unreasonably long periods of time with their manual signalling that leads to long queues of transports creating jams. The use of the automatic signaling lights can much reduce this muddle and speed up traffic movement. Then the policemen also do nothing when bus drivers avoiding the prescribed spots stop in a haphazard fashion on the roads to allow passengers to embark or disembark But this practice holds up other vehicles on the rear, creating jams. Real estate developers and others keep construction materials heaped up on roads but nobody obliges them to keep the roads free and clean from such encroachments.
Traffic policemen turn a blind eye to rickshawpullers not moving in a single file or in lanes on roads marked for them, but in a carefree manner. In this way, the rickshaws get in front of engine-driven vehicles and create snarl-ups that force the latter to slow down and add to the jams. Transports are also allowed to be parked similarly carelessly that lead to clogging of the roads and spaces hindering easier traffic movement.
All of the above reasons for traffic jams do not really call for building costly infrastructures. Just more caring and efficient policing of the traffic can mean a lot of difference towards a better management of traffic movement in the city.
Amirul Islam
Nayapaltan
Dhaka
As it is, the traffic policemen are seen doing a very sloppy job, especially at the intersections with their hand signalling although there are signalling lights for doing this work. They tend to hold up traffic for unreasonably long periods of time with their manual signalling that leads to long queues of transports creating jams. The use of the automatic signaling lights can much reduce this muddle and speed up traffic movement. Then the policemen also do nothing when bus drivers avoiding the prescribed spots stop in a haphazard fashion on the roads to allow passengers to embark or disembark But this practice holds up other vehicles on the rear, creating jams. Real estate developers and others keep construction materials heaped up on roads but nobody obliges them to keep the roads free and clean from such encroachments.
Traffic policemen turn a blind eye to rickshawpullers not moving in a single file or in lanes on roads marked for them, but in a carefree manner. In this way, the rickshaws get in front of engine-driven vehicles and create snarl-ups that force the latter to slow down and add to the jams. Transports are also allowed to be parked similarly carelessly that lead to clogging of the roads and spaces hindering easier traffic movement.
All of the above reasons for traffic jams do not really call for building costly infrastructures. Just more caring and efficient policing of the traffic can mean a lot of difference towards a better management of traffic movement in the city.
Amirul Islam
Nayapaltan
Dhaka