Wrong-side driving becoming a norm!

Sir,

This is with reference to the letter titled ‘Curb Wrong-Side Driving in Saraswathipuram’ (Star of Mysore dated Nov. 21). Unfortunately, such behaviour is not limited to any one locality or city. Unlike in the past, it has become a norm on almost every road in this country, whether there is a median or not; whether it is a city road or highway.

I have frequently witnessed wrong-side driving by all types of vehicles, not just two-wheelers or autos, but also cars, lorries, tractors, etc. These are not exceptions to serious road safety violations.

It is unclear whether this stems from a lack of seriousness among drivers about road safety or a failure by authorities to curb such dangerous practices, which endanger the lives of all road users.

Several accidents, many resulting in fatalities, have been reported in various places, including on highways. This violation has become routine because people lack the patience to drive in the correct direction and instead opt to take a U-turn to reach their destination.

The rising cost of fuel may contribute to this trend of wrong-side driving, but the primary cause is the widespread ‘don’t care’ attitude toward road safety.

An alarming observation is that some van drivers and parents transporting school children also engage in wrong-side driving, putting the children’s lives at risk and, worse, making them believe such behaviour is acceptable.

Unless this attitude changes, these violations will continue to be a regular feature on our roads, wherever we are.

– Dr. S. V. N. Vijayendra, Ex-Traffic Warden & Former Member, City Traffic Advisory Committee, Mysuru, Hyderabad, 2.12.2024