Benefit of traffic confusion

Driving in Pune is an art, and you have to learn it the hard way. RuIes are made and broken on the road daily by the people behind the wheels. It is free for all. One can take a left, right, U-turns at will on any part of the stretch. The traffic police department is trying to put some sense and semblance on the streets by converting two-way to one-way and vice versa, but the object of its beneficiaries is to rule the road by flouting rules. One can see two-wheeler riders multitasking on the road — driving with one hand, talking on a cellphone with the other. And if you, the ideal follower of traffic rules and wearing a helmet, dare to look at the ‘offenders’, be prepared to receive a glare, as they are the masters of the road. Even if both their hands are holding the handle, then also they will not hear you blowing the horn, as they must be in their own world with earphones plugged. But the chaos on the roads has its benefits also. My friend’s wife told me she is happy with the traffic confusion on the city roads as her helmet-wearing hubby is forced to concentrate on the road and not get ‘distracted’ by the ‘pretty things’ walking on the footpaths.