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There is a very pressing need to enforce simple traffic rules such as rickshaws running only on lanes meant for them on roads and not straying into car lanes, not allowing buses to allow disembarkation of passengers in the middle of roads, relying extensively on traffic lights for traffic control and not on inefficient manual signalling by traffic policemen, coordination activities to prevent recurrent digging of roads in the city, etc. Only if these advices are taken seriously, then probably the unceasing torments from traffic jams will be much reduced in the city even before the completion of flyovers and building of more roads.
Besides, the construction of new roads is not a sure solution to traffic jams if people are not habituated or effectively persuaded to use the new roads. As it is, several major roads have been built in the city over the last five years. But people, for reasons of habit probably, are seen not using these roads but the old ones with the result that traffic jams in the older roads are witnessed in much the same density as before. This phenomenon is not peculiar to Dhaka. Even in London, the authorities have recently introduced a congestion charge for commuters for taking too busy roads when alternative roads are available to them. The charging is having good effect because the prospect of paying regular charges for road use have, at last, persuaded many motorists to turn to the alternative roads as a way of avoiding the payment. A similar move can be experimented in Dhaka city.
Traffic policemen are at the heart of traffic control. But presently they do a sloppy job. They are seen holding up traffic at intersections for too long by signalling with their hands despite the existence of electronic signalling devices. If the electronic signals are used to manage traffic, then the lights change at intervals of two or three minutes only and no traffic hold ups are witnessed . Thus, traffic signalling with lights should be a must everywhere in the city and the present inoperative signal lights should be made operational at the quickest .
Aminul Haque
Nayapaltan, Dhaka
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