Traffic Chaos

One of the things that has frustrated me recently in Chennai is the absence of Traffic Inspectors in Crossings. I encounter this every morning near the Nandanam Housing Board Bus Stop. Although I have seen him there once in a while. One day he seemed to be lounging on a nearby wall while the pedestrians struggled to cross the road. This results in total chaos among the road users. But then again much needs to be said about the undisciplined road users. Educated or not, these people take the law into their hands.
The share-autos from Central, Paris or Doveton speeds past us at an alarming rate. Questioned these drivers tell us it increases the number of rounds. One driver politely pointed out to me when asked to go slow, that we are the same people who ask him to rush up in the mornings. The enforcement of traffic rules varies from place to place. While spot fines are collected from pedestrians who cross the road near Central, other places are neglected. Its high time the traffic department made serious effort to control the traffic at least during the peak hours.

Anyway, do you know that the world’s first traffic light was installed even before automobiles was in use? It was at an intersection in London in 1868. It involved a lantern with red and green signals illuminated by gas. It was turned with a lever. Unfortunately on January 2, 1869, it exploded killing the policeman operating it.