It’s getting more and more frustrating by the day. Luckily I don’t have much hair to pull out or I’d probably give it to one of the guys selling Free Ads in exchange for one of the papers. Traffic in this city has become unbearable and during rush hour slows down to a snail’s pace. What’s worse is that instead of things going in a straight line as they’re supposed to it doesn’t quite happen that way. Autos will weave in and out of traffic like cockroaches on heat. Two wheelers behave like rabbits hopping from one hole to another, blocking everyone else in the process. The occasional four-wheeler will suddenly decide that it’s time to ignore everybody else and overtake everyone else from the right only to block oncoming traffic. The cop who’s in charge of this area looks the other way and behaves like this is not really happening. Meanwhile, the guy who’s selling guns to commuters finds that his sales are skyrocketing because there’s a war happening out there. I love the epics but I don’t want to have to endure a Mahabharata every time I’m on the road.

The problem more than anything else is a lack of patience on our part and a selfish attitude. We create bottlenecks by disregarding the flow of traffic and rushing to get to the top of the queue. We need to respect the fact that someone got to the line before we did and we have no right to overtake them when the traffic is stationary. Also, the lines dividing the road are there for a reason and should not be crossed whatever happens. The attitude should be, “I am a part of the group, therefore I should do all that I can to make the group, not just myself, more comfortable.” Alas…

As far as the authorities are concerned it is the shoddy state of public transport in this city and poor traffic management. One only has to glance at a public bus to see legs and arms dangling out from the door and “kachumber” inside. I’m sure if the bus service were more efficient and punctual this would deter people from buying vehicles and there’d be less traffic and pollution on the road. The authorities must crack down on rash driving and make sure people adhere to the traffic rules better. It is only a question of time before many of the roads in Bangalore will be made one-way to counter congestion.

I am an eternal optimist and I pray that after the Richmond Road flyover and the Hebbal Ring Road are completed traffic will free up in the city. But the problem is not just about more cars and less space on the roads but about our mentality. Which brings me to a word that I think applies to the way we need to behave on the roads. It’s called utilitarianism. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as, “a doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or benefit a majority.” If we think about everyone on the road maybe we’ll drive better and not add to the chaos that already exists. Maybe it’s wishful thinking but the real battle is with ourselves and not the idiot in the honking Ambassador behind us.

Hit the road Jack and keep coming back for more.

Please send in your views at the Banging it Out Board on the Communiqué.