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| Red, Yellow, Green : Commuters yet to get in terms with traffic lights | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Oct 20: Installed with an aim to ease the traffic flow on city roads, the Electronic Traffic Signal Lights System (ETSLS) instead of providing much needed relief to the commuters has only added to the chaotic traffic scenario- at least for the first couple of months.
The commuters rue that the traffic congestion in the city instead of improving as envisaged is deteriorating further thanks largely due to the 'inefficient' traffic police viz a viz the faulty traffic signal system at some of the vital points.
The people, who were waiting for the traffic lights anxiously, after nearly two and a half months seen struggling to cope up with the new system, especially, when one has to negotiate the mini-bus operators known as habitual offenders and known for putting on the brakes of their vehicles anywhere at their will thereby throwing the rules to the winds.
"Signals or no signals, mini bus drivers have no fear of flashing lights as they could be seen putting brakes just few meters short or ahead of signal lights to fetch or to de-board a passenger which shows their stubbornness to follow traffic rules. The mini- bus operators' willful stoppage close to traffic signals is creating problems for other motorists. The private vehicle operators are finding it difficult to move quickly when signal flashes green light as they are being confronted by stationary matadors in front which creates unnecessary blockage near most of the traffic light signals installed in the city," Naveen Kumar, a student said.
A majority of the motorists said that the traffic signal lights which were installed at 30 locations within the city are proving out to be a source of confusion for the vehicle operators as at some points these lights are giving wrong signals while at some points their timers are also not working properly.
Leave aside these problems, the situation at some of the busy rotaries like Kachi Chawni's Library Chowk, Ambphalla Chowk, Shakuntala Cinema crossing, Indira Chowk and Vivekananda Chowk- Gummat is more than messy as the commuters here are finding it difficult to understand the nitty-gritty of flashing signals.
Moreover, the traffic cops at most of the Signal lights are hardly visible to regulate the proper movement of vehicles. The absence of traffic police personnel particularly near traffic signals lights is giving a free hand to the motorists to jump the signal without any fear of being penalized.
"While negotiating rotaries like Ambphalla Chowk and Indira Chowk, the motorists have to tread very carefully as the timers as well signals set to move and stop at these points are quite perplexing. The situation at Ambphalla is just chaotic beacuse when someone is moving towards New Plot or Manda from Rehari Chungi side, the signal flashes red as well as green lights simultaneously which is not only confusing but also an open invitation for an incident to happen," Neeraj Sharma, a daily commuter on ever busy Ampbhalla-Janipura Road said.
"The traffic cops do not react whenever there is signal jumping… They remain mute spectator and do nothing to book the habitual signal jumpers. What to talk of the stationary traffic policemen even those who are now provided with motorbikes equipped with sophisticated wireless sets and other gadgets do not bother to chase the offenders," Sharma added.
Despite all the prevailing disorder related to traffic light signals, people at various places are seen stopping voluntarily on the red light thereby observing the traffic regulations. However, in most of the cases the motorists were seen confused or in any case - least bothered of the Red, Yellow or Green lights. |
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