CHENNAI: It has been 101 long years since the first traffic signal was installed at an intersection at Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States, but have we Chennaiites learned to respect the light yet?
Most motorists on the streets of Chennai tend to follow traffic rules only when traffic police personnel are around, manning the signals. But if a cop is not in sight, it is a different matter altogether.
For instance, at the Gemini signal, where traffic from Kodambakkam, R K Salai and Anna Salai intersect, there were at least six vehicles that jumped the signal in less than an hour on a given day. To be fair to the rest, there indeed were many who waited for the light to turn green.
“I have had near-hit experiences with motorcycles and cars that vroom ahead, violating the red light on Nungambakkam High Road. Often, I wait for a break in traffic to dash across the road,” says Vishnu S, a sales executive.
With the height of the medians increased, it however, is not easy to cross, said a shopkeeper near Valluvar Kottam signal. The near-hits often happen when pedestrians focus on the signal, while many motorists don’t, he added.
The accident at Irumbuliyur near Tambaram a few days ago, in which a middle-aged man was run over by a government bus, was a clear case of signal violation by the driver.
According to S Ramesh, a resident of Egmore, the situation is the same on Poonamallee High Road. “Most motorists do not stop at the signal unless there is a policeman around, but it is not possible to see one there round-the-clock,” he added. With India registering a large number of road accidents and fatalities, as high as 16 per hour according to some findings, following traffic rules is the need of the hour, point out experts. The traffic signal is perhaps the best starting point for this.