The indicator has two meanings…

Pune’s roads are notoriously unsafe. And free-willed at the same time. They run on the will of the drivers. Who run about freely without any regard for safety or rules. Ergo, free-willed.

So last weekend, I had a minor run-in (of the verbal sorts) with one such free-willed driver. While planning, attempting and then being halfway through the U-turn, the following ensued:

As I flicked on the indicator and initiated the right turn, I realized that I wasn’t going to make the turn unless I started a tad wider. So I made the minor adjustment and then proceeded to turn. In the meantime, an enterprising driver decided he should go ahead from my right (while I turned). Upon suddenly finding my car blocking his way, he became angry. Rightfully so. Who would want their progress stalled suddenly by a car across the road. He proceeded to reprimand me for my callous ways…

Driver: Kidhar jaata hai?

Me: Right ko.

Driver: Haath to dikhao…

Me: Indicator on hai…

Driver: Indicator on hai to kahi bhi turn lega?

Me: Right ka indicator hai, right turn hai, main right turn le raha hoo… problem kya hai?

Driver: Gaali kyon diya?

Me: …

Driver: Kidhar bhi turn karega kya?

Me: …

Driver: Right turn lena hai to haath dikhao.

Me: Indicator chalu hai boss.

Driver: Indicator ke do matlab hote hai. Yaa to tum right le rahe ho, ya mujhe aage jane ko bol rahe ho. Tum mujhe aage jaane bol rahe the…

Me: … … …

Driver: Vroom

Me: … !!!???

This is a real life story. No fiction. Really.

Saving Pune’s traffic. Maybe.

Yes, it’s one of my pet peeves. And I can’t be like some who find Zen in it. No disrespect… just that, I’m too hotheaded!

But there is hope yet. Some solutions can go a long way in “curbing the overenthusiasm” on Pune’s roads. Suggestions:

1. Place spikes (big enough to puncture bus tyres too) at the STOP line that come up when the light turns yellow and go down only when it turns green. This will not only control speed, but also stop that irritating habit some have of standing across the line or zooming through before the traffic light has turned green. Or worse, after it’s turned red!
2. Create separate routes for buses and trucks. Ideally, don’t allow trucks into the city from 8am to 10pm. That’ll ease the roads.
3. Allow citizen policing. That is, if I see someone breaking the law, I can report them. Or beat them up. Maybe just report them!
4. Refuse taxi licenses. Outright. Bas.
5. Give drivers authority to run someone over (pedestrian or driver) if they are breaking the law. Serious. Else, we’ll only amplify this state of chaos we call traffic.
6. Build better and bigger roads. I know, I’m clutching to straws here, but hey, I can wish right? Thoda aur wish karo!

Sure, none of the above is going to happen. And I may just have to heed to Alok’s advise about finding Zen in Pune traffic. The trouble here, though, is that if I smirk or giggle at someone, that’s good enough to start a fight! So I have to just stare at them. It’s a never-ending game of “who blinks first”. And normally, the flow of traffic decides the winner!