Cracking the whip on driving by minors: Red, Yellow, Green signals

Tough decisions. Obviously warranted by the reality on the roads of Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur. Three years prison term for parents whose minor children are found driving. This falls in line with the series of heavy penalties announced by the Centre recently to instil a sense of discipline amongst those behind the wheels and perhaps Imphal would rank high up on the list where drivers drive without giving any care for the other road users. No complaints against the decision of the Government so far, but it would be so much better if only the Government also turns its attention to the reckless, selfish drivers who give no thoughts to others, especially at the several traffic points all across Imphal. Why aren’t the traffic cops cracking down on these dimwits, whose only agenda seem to be to reach their destination without giving any thought to the other road users. Cracking down on drivers without helmets, without wearing safety belts, without license and underaged driving are all fine but it is also equally important for the Government to crack down on those drivers who only have high nuisance value and do not give a thought to the other road users. The VVIPs and the high and mighty will not know, for the road is always cleared for them, but to the ordinary folks, it can be irritating and send one’s blood pressure surging. The need to crack down on those who do not seem or do not acknowledge the presence of the traffic signals at the different traffic point is a case in point. The very fact that despite the traffic lights working perfectly okay at some of these traffic points, traffic policemen are deployed to regulate who stops and who proceeds should underline the point that no one is following the traffic signal.
Many behind the wheels just do not seem to know that the Red signal means they have to stop and they can move only after the Green signal comes. Many more do not seem to know that the Yellow signal is a sign to slow down so that the vehicle may be brought to a stop before the Red light comes on. Even after the Red signal comes on, it is not unusual to see vehicles trying to jump the traffic signal and scoot across just because they cannot or rather do not want to wait for a few more minutes before the Green signal comes. Has the Government taken note of this ? And in so many cases, most of the reckless drivers who jump the Red signal, manage to go scotfree, with the traffic cops unable to go after them. Moreover no one is willing to learn why the zebra crossing is there. It is such types of driving which pose a serious threat to the safety of the other road users and the Government should wake up to this reality too. The Government should also wake up to the fact that the other motorists on the road are not insects or flies to be shooed away with the wave of the hand by their security escorts when the VVIPs decide to take the road. Only then will the stringent traffic rules and regulations become meaningful, else it will just be another half baked measure taken up to ensure road safety and smooth flow of the traffic.