Police mamu - 1

This was my first encounter with bengaluru's traffic cops actually a couple of years back.

The first time I had been to IISc on my then new Bajaj Avenger to meet my friends there, I had found myself in a 'situation'. As you come out of the IISc main gate to head towards malleshwaram, you'll find the traffic signals confusing. It will take sometime to figure out which traffic signal be followed. Who ever has been to IISc would definitely understand what I am talking about. In such cases I follow this rule - just follow the main traffic instead! I followed the main traffic. But the lady luck deceived me this time around...

I was the last one among the main traffic to cross the signal and the first one to be caught by the cop alleging me to have violated the signal. He made me wait for 5-10 minutes (which actually felt like half an hour then :)) before he actually 'attended' me as he was busy attending other 'offenders'. As he questioned me and noted my registration number, I tried to explain him how confusing the signal was and how new I was to bengaluru in general and IISc in particular etc. While we were negotiating the 'fine' I felt that having a cruiser bike can actually hurt you as you are seen as a 'bade baap ke bigde beta' (forgive the grammer) by the cops!! He even threatened me that he'll inform my father by sending a notice to my house. He somehow had assumed that I was still a student and my father had bought me the bike. Anyway I didn't want to clarify him as he would have charged more 'fine' to an IT professional. He started with 200 bucks and finally demanded 100 bucks. I told him that I didn't have enough money and my girlfriend was waiting near Sampige theatre (the one near malleshwaram 1st cross - see the knowledge of movie theatres help at times :)) to watch movie with me and that she'll be disappointed if I didn't go with enough money to buy tickets ;-) I had brought appropriate expressions on my face to gain sympathy. He somehow was completely convinced at my 'frank' and 'genuine' excuse and finally agreed upon 50% discount at 50 bucks. That still remains the lowest 'fine' that I have paid the traffic cops at b'luru. Thanks to my imaginary girlfriend. I owe her a treat for that :)

The yellow

As I write this blog I am very much disturbed by the sight of an accident I witnessed at Lalbagh gate near Urvashi theater yesterday evening. This is the closest fatal accident that I have witnessed till date - a van infront of me and the victim, a 25-28 yr old guy on a two wheeler, was infront of that van! I hadn't noticed the guy until he flew 4-5 ft in air when a mini bus/maxicab hit him at 90 degrees. Before I could pull out my bike aside and reach out to my mobile to call up emergency ambulance number, a couple of traffic cops took control of the situation and informed the ambulance. I even heard one of them saying its too late... and it all happened because of the yellow light...

Conventionally, color red is used to indicate danger but I would recommend yellow...

I have often noticed that this yellow signal has caused more harm than good. In fact all the 3 accidents that I have witnessed till now are during the yellow signal. We all know that when a green signal turns yellow one is expected to decelerate but its quite common that everyone (including me) accelerate so that one can cross the signal before it turns red. Similarly, when a red signal turns yellow, it is to indicate one should get ready to move, particularly if one has switched off the engine. I guess this is required for all the old scooters where the kick starting is quite a trouble and time consuming. With more and more two wheelers coming up with the electric start even this 'start time' is short. If you choose to wait till the yellow turns green, you will hear a lot of honks from the vehicles behind you and few of them will give you a disgusting look and few might even verbally abuse you ! If you notice its hardly 3-5 seconds is the transition period from red to green and vice versa. During this 5 sec window one expects to see the crossing/junction without any traffic. But it has rarely ever occured and this 5 seconds window is when vehicles from all the directions try to occupy the junction. Such one consfusion costed this unfortunate guy his life. I have been driving extra cautiously the entire day today. My speed has drastically reduced to a max of 40 kmph since yesterday evening!

Yellow is also the prominent color on bangaluru's autos/ricks (or autorickshaws - a 3 wheeled car as described by one of our korean customers during their visit to bangalore :)). Thats one more reason why I want to associate yellow with danger. In last two years of my experience on bangalore roads I have concluded that its the autos that you need to watch out for once you are on driving seat even if there are other delightful sights on other vehicles around :) The way these autos use their indicators (again yellow in color) is quite interesting. In first place, most them don't have them. Even if they have they are used in pretty innovative ways. I have seen few autos turning both the indicator lights on (yes ON and not blinking) as if they are supplementing their dim headlights. I have no idea how they manage to switch on both the indicators without blinking... or why should such a control be provided by the manufacturers. I have tried to suggest the auto drivers (whenever I travelled in a rick) to use the indicators but in vain :( Some of the drivers use the indicators to indicate the opposite direction that they are about to turn!! I have noticed that the 3 wheel design of these autos give them the maneuverability comparable to a two wheeler - they sometime take such a sharp turns which can put the even the designers of fighter jets at shame.

One last thought about the yellow, I am wondering if it is a mere coincidence that the optics describes the color yellow as a combination of red and green colors...