Traffic signals are meant to bring order to busy roads. But during monsoon, some signals across the city occasionally stop working or start malfunctioning, turning already congested junctions into accident-prone zones. At few junctions like Kriplani Square, Janta Square, Manish Nagar, Deo Nagar and many more, sometimes remain completely non-functional. Once, all four traffic lights at Janta Square reportedly turned green simultaneously, leaving drivers unsure of who had the right of way. The next thing known is that it followed chaos, blaring horns and dangerous moments that could easily have ended up in accident.

 

A vigilant citizen said that a signal is a basic road safety mechanism. Even an occasional failure at a busy intersection can put many lives at risk. Sometimes, one of the four signals from a Square does not turn green which creates confusion and long waiting time for the commuters. The situation becomes worse during the peak hours when roads are packed with office-goers, school buses and emergency vehicles. Roads filled with potholes, patches, rough layers with gravel are already becoming reasons for accidents, yet malfunctioning signals meant for safety are becoming a part of them. Commuters say that the malfunctioning signals sometimes blink continuously or remain switched off. Vehicles enter such intersections from all directions, leading to long traffic hours and near-collisions. One of the most disappointing and inhumane act is when people do not give way for ambulance to pass by. They are so engrossed in reaching their desired destination sooner that basic civic sense is forgotten. Motorists are left to manage traffic on their own, increasing the risk of accidents.