Signal Rules

Traffic signals are just for somebody else.   Is that most of them are thinking ?  nobody is properly monitoring the situations whether actually people following it or not.  Most of the time vehicles will be crossing the Red signals.  If we are not moving the vehicles we may have hear all kinds of bad words from others.   this is we can see most of the signals near MG Road-Victoria Road junction, Mostly in HAL junction,  Marathahalli etc.   People should fear to follow the rules.  Heavy penalties to levied. They should stand before the stop line. not after that. Government can make lots of money from this.    

Today I saw few BTS buses crossing the RED singal, they even not looking the weather vehicles are coming or not.   These are criminal activities  equivalent to murder attempts.  

Safety Measures

Normally traffic is very heavy in bangalore.  Nowadays the steps are taken to improve the situation.  The Bangalore Traffic Improvement Project 2010 (BTRAC 2010) is aimed at improving traffic management and traffic policing in the city.  This is one of the good steps

We can see people involved in the road works.  Their safety is very important.  sometimes we cannot see any barricades or some safty barrior.   I saw few people painting in the old Airport road.  In this huge traffic people may not notice this and it can cause accidents.   

Bangalore Traffic

Bangalore – pensioner’s paradise

Traffic condition in Bangalore has to be perceived from three angles — how wide are the roads, how free are the roads and how good are the roads? Yes this statement is true but always congestion is based on these angles. No. We need think about traffic congestions, safety, ambulance routing, Pollution, comfort ability. We all know the Government and police, people and organization helping to improve the situations to a good way. Probably few more additions from each individual will make lots of difference. We will pray for them who lost their life in the accidents. Each individual should feel that make a situation that there should not be any accident due to negligence.

First of all as a citizen I will thank the authorities for the new initiatives for showing interest in changing the situation slightly better. Good initiative. We are hoping that He will do more better things. Few of the items needs attention

1. Zebra crossing and foot over bridge

a. The general observation you can see is there is not foot over bridge in the needed places, if you take from MG road to Airport, to Marathahalli Bridge - you can see the number of people crossing the road. This is in irregular mode. Many times we can see people waiting more than half an hour to cross the road. Also old persons will suffer more. This road cross is very risky and can cause lots of traffic block in the normal stages. Please have a look in the Marathahlli bridge area in the evening 7:00 M. also people don’t have place to stand while crossing the roads. So they will be standing in the roads, other vehicles have to slow down.

b. Some of the signals don’t have the zebra crossing. It is better to be implemented in all signals

c. Painting should be done clearly with proper stop line.

d. Some zebra crossing we can see the stop line after zebra line. This can checked.

e. Some places escalator will be useful.

Eg) Mayo hall junction near Central Mall – It is difficult to cross the road for most of the pedestrians

2. Giving more importance for the walkers.

a. Most of the times we can see the importance is given for vehicles than the pedestrians. While crossing the road or walking through the road where there no proper pedestrian ways. You can see some example MG Road Manipal center crossing. Already traffic congestion is in the peak, so the pedestrian ways are proper, people will not come to road for walking.

b. I have seen one foreigner was hit by a vehicle while crossing the road properly (he was seeing the walk green signal)

3. Prepare and do sub projects before any big project

a. Before doing any big projects there should be way to do the sub projects give a proper path for the big projects. Example we know that Metro works started, so some of the roads which can be congested by this work can be repaired and widened, with proper traffic signals can be implemented. And plans for the vehicle routing should be planned and put it in a board which is visible to the public.

b. Public are very patient. They will wait for the project to get over. But normally what happens is the project will prolong for more years than planned. First of all the planning details should be written in a board in the project place and target to that date , good project management skills and risk management skills to be used.

c. There should be some penalty towards to project delays based on the criticality and alternate paths.

4. Widen the pedestrian way in necessary places and reduce width in necessary places

a. Pedestrian ways are some places very big and some required places it is very narrow. People even need to come to roads for walking. Some of the brides and crossing there is no pedestrian way.

5. Make the traffic monitoring more strict

a. Signal jumping - Traffic should be monitored such a way that people should slow down they see yellow signal. And they should stop before the red signal. Nowadays even the police people allows the vehicle to pass in the red signals

b. Signal stopping - Vehicles are getting stopped after the zebra crossing or in the midway of signals. Previously police used to warn people who stops after the white stop line. Probably this white line with stop text should be painted and fine should be kept on people stopping after that.

c. Now the situation is changed such a way that if we stop in the red signal, we will get shouting from the behind vehicle. Probably more awareness, fining, warning etc should be implemented. Police should support and appreciate people who follows the proper traffic rules

d. Some areas there is no proper signal lights, some times we can see all the lights on in some places. One example we can see Victoria road –ADC center signals. There is one signal light in the beginning or signal and another in the junction. These two signal lights are not in sync.

e. Free left - Proper signal boards and warning signals to be kept in the free left, U turn, slow signals etc

f. Humps - some of the humps are not visible, proper hump lines

g. Need to be strict on the yellow lines, cross lines etc. Extra fine to be kept for vehicle crossing the yellow lines

h. Some of the vehicles are going through the pedestrian path. This is more dangerous and extra fine to levied on the defaulters

6. Make the traffic boards more visible

a. There many things related to this. Signal lights, direction boards, traffic boards for humps, signals, zebra crossing etc. to be more visible

b. Some of the traffic lights are not visible in the sunlight.

c. Implementation of proper line systems in the turnings and u-turn areas will reduce the congestion drastically

7. Plan the project very clearly keeping at least 25 years development in mind

a. Some of the development plans are temporarily which just sufficient for the current situations. But after implementation the situation might have changed drastically.

b. Normally we can see some of the flyovers, it causes traffic to be extended to the other ends but if few more planning can make the situations more great considering future roads, facilities, and considering the future project plans.

c. Some of the projects should go hand in hand with other departments to avoid digging the roads for some other purpose. Provision should be provided as pre-made pipe or communication/transport channels.

d. Road works should follow the proper safety measures. Sometime we can not see where and when the digging is happening. We can see suddenly some roadwork in the middle of the road. There should be indicators as normally will be there in some of the foreign countries. So people can be aware of the situations. Also proper coverage of the road work areas will avoid traffic jams and accidents.

8. Study and analysis on the effectiveness of the projects and close the traffic issues which can come in future.

a. People are main users of the projects. So it should clearly validate against the usage.

b. Some of the project plan should be validated for realistic measures. PMI concepts can be implemented in few areas. Too much delay in the projects should levy penalties as it causes inconvenience to the people.

9. Separate way for ambulance, police, and fire engines and Special Forces.

a. There should be some rule implemented for special category of people for easier travel

b. Other vehicle should slowdown and move left immediately away from the special line.

c. There should some line which signifies the line for the ambulance, police, fire engines etc.

d. Just imagine a pregnant woman to go urgently to hospital in Bangalore. They can be our sister or relative. Authorities need to take these steps very seriously.

10. Special rules for cross roads, side roads, u- turns etc.

a. Turnings and crossing are major bottlenecks for traffic congestions.

b. This causes more accidents and people who drove in foreign countries; it is very difficult to drive here.

c. Line system can be implemented, proper traffic signals, yellow line to avoid crossing to wrong areas,

d. Proper boards for U- turn and free left signals

e. Traffic lights in 24/7 mode operations

f. Fines should be levied on people not following the traffic rules

g. Somebody to monitor the traffic even in the night situations

h. Bus stops should be slightly towards to left side to avoid traffic blockage to other vehicles

i. Of course Bus drivers needs to given instruction to part in the bus stop properly so that other vehicles can pass easily. (this is very important one)

j. Buses, cars, bikes should follow the line discipline

11. Technology and Automatic traffic lights

a. Automatic traffic lights using sensors and time delays will be necessary to implement where ever continuous traffic police attention is not required.

b. More Special cameras and integrated with latest technologies

c. Centralized Traffic system connectivity

12. Current Traffic police forces

a. We can see the current Police forces are having lots of work in managing the crowd. Thanks for the services.

b. We need to think for reducing the human interventions in many ways by automating

c. We need to make more forces for controlling the crowd and creating awareness to the public

d. They need more materials, and advanced technologies

e. Improve the visibility of the police in the traffic junctions. (sometimes if the traffic lights are off, we need to search for the police for his directions)

f. These traffic congestions are risky for the police person managing the traffic junction.

g. Example I can see the Kundalahalli Gate, police team is really suffering managing the crowd.

h. These will create health issues mainly for them and to the general public also.

i. Make their life more comfortable with more pay hikes. Audit their commitment and attitude for better promotions

j. Include more trainees for the small junctions, near schools etc.

13. Force the traffic rules in 24/7

a. Night travel is very tough and nobody follows the traffic rules

b. The main reason behind that is no traffic lights

c. Second reason is nobody monitors the situation or controls the situation

d. Traffic junctions are very dangerous in the nights

e. Same rules should be implemented in the nights and made it stricter and fine can be doubled in the night.

14. Proper medians, proper lighting system

a. Some of roads do not have proper medians. This can cause lots of accidents

b. Medians can be covered with good advertisements to avoid issues with light from the other side.

c. In Bangalore where ever possible roads to be separated for one way mode.

d. High beam light can cause problem for any person even who has proper eyesight.

e. Fine can be levied in certain areas where they use high beam lights

f. Proper night indicators, reflective solutions to see the medians, crossings, posts, humps, bridges, etc..

g. Avoiding unnecessary and big posters near medians and turnings, which reduces visibility

15. Parking, waiting vehicles etc.

a. Main example is Marathahalli Bridge bus stop. Enough space is available. Bus there is not stopping or parking regulations. Vehicle are parked in bus stops, bus are stopped in the roads, and vehicle are parked more time and not in order. Evening the people are more in the bus park. There is should be area for people stand and they are not allowed on the roads. Discipline can be implemented in many ways. But should have rules, monitoring mechanism, and should control the violations. Probably some kind of queuing systems, line mechanism, pathway for people to walk etc. But these kind of items needs to considered as subprojects and should put some resources to be assigned for better convenience for the public.

b. Government can come out with lots of Parking buildings and parking areas which should not affect the general public. Even private sponsorship for temporary parking can be available and can be utilized.

16. Cleaning

a. We can see that some of the roads are very dirty and some of the roads are filled with muds in the side. Most of the time only half part of the road is utilized. This is one main cause for traffic blocks. Example if dirty water pooled in one place, you can see all the vehicle will move to the other side and going so this will slow down the traffic.

b. In the road side we can see lots of materials which can be public or some median parts which can lead to some accidents (I myself met with accident in a rainy night with no lights outside.)

c. Some materials like sand, mud, small stones falls from the lorries.

d. Cleaning the roads and side roads we can get some sponsorship from various organizations.

e. We can see some junctions which needs cleaning (Kundalahalli Gate)

f. It is very important to repair and clean the roads near junctions.

g. Steps to take against sound pollution and air pollution.

h. Keeping more plants and tree in the road side and medians.

i. Important to keep more dust bins in frequent distances.

j. Fines for people spitting on the roads and public spaces.

k. Extra fines and charges for people who destroys the public properties.

l. Govt. needs to reduce tax on electrical vehicles.

m. Steps for stringent measures to reduce pollutions.

n. Some places open drainage line should be partially closed used for pedestrian paths. Probably grilled shutters.

17. Involve Many organizations for various levels of sponsorship

a. Traffic congestion is common issues and most of the organizations are frustrated with this. Surely Many organizations will be ready to sponsor in many ways, either money, materials, responsibility of some areas, medians and advertisements,

b. Even people will be ready to sponsor money for this movement

c. Materials for the forces can also be sponsored Traffic lights, materials for the resources like traffic torches, reflective materials, police posts, traffic boards, sign boards, etc.

d. Bangalore is known to move with latest technologies. So here also we can use latest technologies clean and neat Bangalore.

e. Probably these sponsorship can be against some advertisement campaign based on some definite rules and guidelines.

18. National Waste of money and time

a. People waiting in the traffic we are losing crores money

b. Business which can cover in the normal time will reduce drastically

c. Most of the people preferring to sit at home rather than working outside

d. Most of the people spending time in the traffic instead of the productive hours

e. Sickness increases, Cancerous diseases are increasing day by day

f. Emergency cases are failing due to traffic situations

g. Mindset of the people changing and getting into violent characters due to impatience and regular cribbing

h. Kids are most sufferers ,

i. Indian traffic Jams becoming very “famous” among the foreign nationals. We need to change situations.

j. Big organizations losing their productivity, difficult do time management etc.

k. We need to get together and each one need to do some contribution by adhering to some good values making others to follow the good values.

19. Awareness programs

a. Awareness program required on traffic rules, professional responsibilities, honking, respecting, keeping distance, respecting other’s time, respect towards police personals, keeping the roads neat and clean, using dust bins, and main thing is informing the authorities about the violations. Awareness program to reduce air pollution, sound pollution etc.

b. This is very important of all. If there is no awareness program, other activities will not have any effect

c. Special training while giving the licenses

d. Special training to Police forces

e. Organizational level awareness programs

f. Training programs for the Bus Drivers (BMTC). We can see that they are not following the traffic rules sometimes.

g. Make the awareness programs mandatory for the software other organizations (so that they can propagate the awareness to others).

h. Make the awareness program for the office drivers, taxi and auto drivers

i. Organizations should make it awareness programs mandatory for their drivers and take steps to monitor their performance

j. Awareness speeches in the public places and also part of the project management or personality development of the organizations.

k. Awareness programs as part of the curriculum and as part of professional responsibility

l. Awareness advertisements, TV shows, shows in the BMTC TVS, Bus stands, Bus stops, notices

m. Awareness program to cleanliness, no spitting in the roads, and usage of dust bins etc.

n. Make volunteers from software firms to come out and campaign for the programs

o. Basic awareness as part of the organizational induction and cultural programs.

p. Make awareness to make Bangalore cleaner and greener and Keep the good value even in the foreign countries.

q. Make the awareness group growing through various forums and discussions

20. Extra income can be planned for some of the activities

a. Violators can be made to attend the awareness programs with their own cost

b. There are extra income from the fines and charges. Based on the criticality fines can be increased. Sample areas where fines can be increased

i. Crossing red lights, crossing yellow lines

ii. Going through pedestrian way

iii. Parking near the bus stops

iv. Spitting on the roads

v. Wrong side waiting in the signals.

vi. Etc..

c. Extra income from sponsorship

d. Awareness program gives more sponsorship

e. Special parking places and parking charges

f. Probably special taxes can be levied while purchasing vehicles.

Let us help Bangalore to become cleaner greener Bangalore with less pollution and very good city and should make it as pensioner’s paradise. All this movement surely needs individual support. Probably authorities can get help from the organization volunteers for promotion, and awareness programs.