Stuck in traffic jam? Whose fault is it?

Traffic jams and snarls have become an integral part of urban life. From narrow lanes to broad highways, from newspaper pages to journalistic debates, their presence has been felt widely. From government agencies to rain drops, many factors seem to play their part in causing these. And from rickshaw puller to the owner of super-luxury cars, no one seems to escape their wrath.

Yesterday I spent nearly ‘half of a normal work day’ commuting to office and back. Along with testing the limits of patience, it was also an opportunity to observe and ponder on the behavior of my fellow travelers. Based on my observations on this particular day and all other hours spent on roads, this is what I have understood as some of the reasons why we witness these occurrences.

•   Heavy vehicle drivers – may be they feel like demi-gods, sitting high up, expecting the lesser mortals down below to make way for them. Maneuvering gigantic automobiles, expecting others to stay behind them like a flock of followers.
•  Commercial drivers – They drive with a vengeance for everyone who prides in driving a self-owned vehicle. Quite understandably, the lost business opportunity is frustrating. And thus they leave no opportunity to prove all others a novice in this game. Cutting in from all angles, blocking and preventing, they want to only win this race.
•  Three-wheel drivers – Poking their pointy nose in between every available or not available space seems to be their business. How that narrow space will expand to accommodate the other two ends of the triangle, is left for the other vehicle drivers to figure out.
•   Two-wheel drivers – they occupy every available space on the road to ensure maximum space utilization. Not to be inundated by their size, they are raring and roaring, twisting and turning, to zoom ahead.
•  And last but not the least – the pedestrians – who very confidently leave their lives in the hands of the one behind the wheel. Unlike automobile engineers, god did not supply any separate set of breaks for their wheels (read feet), and thus it is not their responsibility to stop.

 In a nut-shell, we the commuters are always in a rush. Counting every extra minute spent on a traffic signal. Blood pressures rising. Frustrations pouring out with swears. Roads have become the perfect place to boost our egos. Moving in extreme left lane before taking a right turn, entering an already blocked patch to add to the confusion, ignoring the red signal to zoom ahead.

Secretly we all wish we were the only one moving ahead, while the world came to a stand-still. Unfortunately others wish for the same. In the end we all stall when the cumulative wish is granted.

As travelers we have ceased to believe in co-operation, co-existence and joy of journey. Roads have become the place to prove our horse-power.