Reader’s Response 

 

Wrong-side driving has virtually become a fundamental right for some road users, putting law-abiding commuters at constant risk. In a large number of accidents, it is often an innocent person who ends up paying the price for someone else’s reckless behaviour. A similar problem is seen near flyover exits, where motorists take dangerous shortcuts to avoid driving a few extra metres to reach the designated merging point. In their haste to save a couple of minutes, they compromise the safety of everyone on the road. What is even more surprising is that, many offenders are owners of high-end vehicles.

 

Despite their financial status, they resort to the poorest standards of road discipline, driving on the wrong side, taking illegal U-turns, and violating traffic rules merely to save a small amount of time or fuel. Such behaviour reflects not a lack of resources, but a lack of civic responsibility. If the administration is serious about curbing this menace, it can easily identify habitual violation points, especially near flyover ends and road dividers, and install CCTV cameras to automatically detect and penalise offenders. The fines should be substantial enough to act as a real deterrent rather than being treated as a minor inconvenience. Additionally, repeat offenders should face stricter consequences, such as temporary impounding of vehicles for a week or a fortnight, subject to legal provisions.

 

Traffic Police should also map these hotspots and conduct surprise enforcement drives. Since many violators become cautious only when they spot a uniformed officer from a distance, personnel in plain clothes; while carrying proper identification and acting within the law, could help in effectively detecting and apprehending offenders. Road safety cannot be achieved through infrastructure alone. It requires discipline, accountability, and a clear message that, convenience for a few cannot come at the cost of safety for everyone.