Traffic on Tuesdays - Send a Signal

I think it's about time someone explained to drivers in Chennai what their indicator lights are meant for. That there's absolutely no use in switching them on after you've turned. That the point is to indicate that you're going to turn. To give the vehicles behind you an idea of your intentions, so that they have the time to react accordingly.

I've lost count of the number of times a stationary car, parked on the side of the road has pulled out a few feet in front of me -without any warning. The concept of MSM (mirror, signal, maneuver) is completely unknown. To them it is just ... M (maneuver). Sometimes I wonder if ignorance is any excuse for lack of common sense. I mean, even if you had never heard of MSM, would you pull out into moving traffic without looking to see what was coming? While walking down the street, would you turn and cross it without stopping to look both ways? For some reason the people of Chennai seem to do exactly that!

It is basic common sense. Whether you're a motorist or a pedestrian, you need to be aware of the traffic around you, and ensure that they're aware of you and what you're going to do. In other words, you need to check your mirrors and signal - before you start moving, before you change lanes, before you make a turn, before you pull over to the side of the road - before you do anything at all.

Your mirrors, all 3 of them, are meant for you to see what's behind you. They're not meant to be kept closed or be used to style your hair. And last but not least, your hazard lights are meant to indicate that there is a problem - not that you're going straight at a junction.

I guess this advice doesn't really apply to most of you who read this post (at least I hope it doesn't ;) ). But I wish there was a way to get this message across to people who would benefit from it. I would love to print it out and hand it out to all the staff in my office, but unfortunately there is a language barrier, and I don't know enough Tamil to translate it. (oh alright - so I don't know any Tamil :p ). So, if any of you feel inspired enough to translate it for me, I would be very, very grateful. You could email it to me at childofchennai@gmail.com. And I'm hoping you'll spread the word. Forward it to your friends and coworkers, pin it up on your notice boards. Who knows, maybe it will get through to somebody.