Traffic Rules

They are not just for you to obey. It’s a well-disguised psychological warfare…

Note: This post is mainly for those who are yet to get their license, those who have been told that they are driving in a rash and dangerous manner, and for those who like a good reading.

Beyond Rules – The Bigger Picture.

First, a brief groundwork of basics. In most developed countries, there is a concept of parking ticket, where if one breaks a traffic rule, he will be photographed and the same will be sent home. Then you have to go to a nearby police station and pay the fine and may also get a warning against the license. But, the case of developing countries is very different. Here, there is no concept o photography and ticketing. If the policeman at the traffic signal, gets very lucky, and finds a guy crossing the light, and if he gets his weight shifted to the spot in time, he may earn some money for the day.

Having covered the basics let me come to the point. Let me consider an example, when a light turns red, it is not just an order for you to stop, it is a very serious psychological betting invitation. He bets on the fact that the light will not make you stop the vehicle. And by crossing the red signal, we may have attained satisfaction of youth and negligence, but unfortunately you lost the bet. Let me give you one simpler example. The Stop line is not just for you to stop, but to win his bet that a simple white line across the road will not stop you from deciding what you want to do.

There is an old saying, “You may think you have won the battle, but you have lost the war.” This quote applies to the present situation.

What you should do:

Take the following oath:

1. I will not allow someone I do not even know, to win a bet he has placed on me.
2. I will stop my vehicle before the “Stop” line. This is not to show that I obey traffic rules, but to wipe the smirk off that traffic policeman’s face.
3. I will follow the traffic signals or the signals given by the policeman (as the case depends), to the letter. This is to not give him an opportunity to win a bet that he did not deserve.
4. I will only give my oath only under two conditions:

a. When I am helping somebody suffering from a severe illness and deserving urgent medical attention

b. When there is an ambulance behind me and desperately trying for a way out. Whatever any government, institution or law says, a person’s life always has the highest priority.

Take the above oath and let us win not only petty battles, but also huge wars.