Traffic Signals: Are They Always Best Solution?
Many years ago, during my engineering college days in Trivandrum, one of our professors asked what seemed to be a very trivial question – “Which is better, an audio cassette or an audio CD”? CDs were pretty expensive those days, and CD players were even more expensive. Our answer was that CD is definitely better, the only disadvantage being the higher price.
Our prof made us to look at this question from a different angle – irrespective of the price, there is not single one-size-fits-all type answer to this question. The answer would depend on the exact needs that are being addressed. In the case of cassettes vs CDs, CDs offered random access to songs, whereas cassettes had to be sequentially played. For a temple playing the nadaswara (or similar fare) without bothering about the order in which songs are played, cassettes were better.
I came across the same situation in my recent 3 day visit to my hometown, Trivandrum. We generally presume that traffic signals being better in technology than traffic policemen are better in managing the traffic problems of the city. Two junctions around the area of my home, Edapazhinji and Jagathy, have been fitted with traffic signals. Most times I crossed these signals I found that since the roads are not broad enough to account for 3 lanes per way (free left, straight, and right turn) the signals invariably ended up creating blocks which were non existent earlier. On two of the three days I was there, traffic policemen had to be called in to undo the mess created by the signals.
I am not saying that traffic signals are bad. Rather, they do an excellent job at Statue and Pattom junctions where the roads are broad enough. What is needed is a more thoughtful approach to investment in technology so that they are made only at the right places.
Photo Credit: Saad.Akthar
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Author: Sabarinath Nair (1 Articles)
Techie turned Marketing Management professional currently based out of Chennai; native of Thiruvananthapuram. Blogs at sabarinathc.blogspot.com and tweets at twitter.com/sabarinathc
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I would complaint against the narrow roads rather than the traffic lights.
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We Indians need patience. We have always been trained to get to the front, in all fair or crook. Starting with school admission, if I could get my application on the top and of course with a reco, a promise to add 10000 bricks to the school building fund then I deserve a seat better than a brainier kid… growing up with such attitudes I tend to think if I could only overtake those waiting at the signal and edge on the right then I will have my easier traverse across the signal.
Just inconsiderate.
It puzzles me after being here for a while in the UK, that India needs signals for Round abouts. Whereas the purpose of round about is to avoid a cop/signal. If only we had the will and patience to give a chance first and take the chance next our world will be a better place.
Irrespective of ours being narrow roads, needings cops, needing signals it is our mindset that is narrow, blocked and need policing.
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I agree with that… it’s the mind set… all we can do is not to do the same mistake and hope others follow… in due course of time
But as the saying goes… old habits die hard…
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Agree Nithya. I dont know how many of our licence holders know the phrase ‘left is right’ which means, give way to the vehicle coming from the left (in a junction). Here, we all follow ‘I am right’ policy. Sorry for using ‘all’ but I am sure we all, atleast once, gave preference for our priorities in road.
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I do agree with the article.
Most of the time traffic signals create problems rather than solving it. Traffic signals should only be used sparingly.
The best example is lms – palyam -pmg strech. This road was in peace until the new twoway system and traffic signals were installed.
Allow drivers to cross junctions cooperatively. Or if traffic signals are necessary, say as in overbridge, what we need is an Intelligent traffic system which scans the road and allot green time according to traffic density
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