The Traffic Signal...!

Wikipedia defines Traffic Signal as follows:  “Traffic lights, also known as traffic signals, traffic lamps, signal lights, and robots, are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic.”

Please note the point “to control the competing flows of traffic”. But only when the human beings (the drivers) follow the robot called the traffic signal that factor will work out. Sadly in India it doesn't happen as it is planned. The traffic signal is orphaned because it is often ignored…

When ever I travel one thing I have always noticed is the sad fact that some of our dear fellow Indian citizens give least respect to road rules. In fact some one mockingly said “Rules are for Fools”

I remember seeing a cartoon in Face book some time back… The following is the content

Traffic Signal Indicators

India

Green – Go

Yellow – Go Fast

Red – Check if there is no police and then go

Rest of the world

Green – Go

Yellow – Go Safe

Red – Stop

Let me add one more point to the above comparison. In India, even if police is there some knows the knack to get away!

The above comparison might sound funny. But please take the message.

Why is it we as a nation lack in this little thing when rest of the world does?

Ans: No fear of punishment. Just do and get away...

When I had shared this image in Face book I got a comment from my friend saying India is unique and it is good only that we are standing out and we are being compared with the rest of the world.

Of course she was joking!!

The point is we should not only be proud that India is being talked about but we should look at what context it is being talked about.

India is unique when it comes to its heritage, rich culture, diversity and quite remarkable unity it maintains despite the problems it face. These are good and things which we must be proud of. At the same time there should be no complacency when it comes to areas which we as a country should improve.

There is no reason that makes us proud that we are being compared with the rest of the world when it comes to breaching the road rules.

Where there are strict punishments to law breaking there would be fear to break the law. By tolerating the rule breaking in our roads we are setting path for higher crimes with no punishment. Corruption law breaking and other heinous crimes should be handled as strict as what the rest of the world does.

The comparison with the rest of the world was shared not with an intention to undermine the uniqueness of our nation but to enhance its unique beauty. There are so many things which we as a nation can be proud of and these thorns should be cleared away to reveal its true beauty and each of us should practice what we can do at our level. It is like how old organization too proud of its rich heritage becomes complacent and does not see the problems it has. It would eventually lead to its downfall. So let us be proud we are Indian and try to revive the lost glory and make it a better nation or at least from our part try our best not to let it slide further. And each one of us should follow what we can do. It can be as little as following road rules.

Because every society is judged not only based on what it creates and maintains but also by what it refuses to destroy!