Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Bring about discipline on the streets) that was published in Newsband

Bring about discipline on the streets

Self-regulation is the only way by which there will be some order on Navi Mumbai’s roads.

The number of vehicles and the number of accidents are both on the rise. Add to this the fact that the traffic police are short-staffed. If Navi Mumbai has to be prevented from becoming a lawless city, Navi Mumbaikars have to take on the responsibility, become self-disciplined and follow traffic rules.

Every day, about 300 to 400 new vehicles are added to the city’s roads. And each of these drivers are in a rush and violate traffic rules by cutting lanes, jumping signals, driving rashly, exposing other motorists as well as pedestrians to the risk of accidents. Most accidents occur because of human error.

Apart from taking measures at an individual level to ensure road safety, people should also start and participate in community projects.

Several citizens are already working to bring about more regulation and discipline on the streets. There are some NGOs which educates both children up to 14 years of age about pedestrian safety. The initiative increases children’s awareness of the hazards on the road and tries to ensure that they grow up as more responsible citizens.

Worldwide, accidents kill 10 lakh children annually. In India, this number is around 60, 000. From following the zebra crossing to using the footpath and reading traffic signs, these NGOs train the children in all aspects of pedestrian safety. The programme is conducted in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad, covering 1,059 schools and more than 17 lakh children.

In Mumbai, the civic body’s Brihanmumbai Mahapalika Shikshak Sabha is a voluntarily initiative introduced in 2009 that trains teachers on pedestrian road safety. The programme aims to educate teachers so that they can pass on the knowledge to their students. The teachers are from both civic and private schools. They are guided about traffic norms, including using footpaths and zebra crossings. They are taught that the traffic police are their friends and that they should cooperate with them for their safety.

Housing societies, too, can take such initiatives. Societies can ensure that all their residents get in-house parking so that the streets outside are not congested.

A chapter on road safety should be made compulsory in the curriculum for all school children. Work on that front is in progress. Schools already have programmes such as the National Cadet Corps and Road Safety Patrol. It is only a matter of utilizing them more effectively.

Citizens can also make a difference by prevailing upon the government to have better accountability. If you know that a policeman is allowing you to park in a prohibited area or is trying to extort money, you should not give in. Citizens can ensure that there is greater accountability and lesser corruption, which will, in turn, create more decorum on the streets.