Pedestrian Safety in Mumbai - Easy Drive Forum

manoj · 13-04-07, 10:04 AM

Pedestrian Safety in Mumbai

“Not too many roads today have zebra crossings. Wherever they are, our men try to keep them free for pedestrians” That was the claim made by Mumbai’s traffic chief, Satish Mathur, on Wednesday.

Here’s what HT found

The Mumbai police ignore pedestrian crossings, even urging vehicles onto clearly marked areas.
There is no fine imposed on violators in Mumbai. Delhi fines zebracrossing invaders Rs 600.
Traffic police get crossings in Delhi and Bangalore marked. Mumbai Police say: it’s a civic job?

The Evidence

Quote:

"Mahalaxmi Railway Station"

Pedestrian crossing marked?

Yes, but the paint has faded.

The scene This is a junction of four roads. Pedestrians spill out of the railway station exit. Most vehi cles were either standing on the marked zebra crossing or ahead, ignored by traffic police.

The pedestrian experience

consultant Anita Nair said vehicles always encroach not only on pedestrian cross ings but even beyond signal posts. “With so many people crossing at one time, the path to cross the road becomes very narrow and pedestrians tend to push each other,” she said. If the vehicles are pushed behind a bit, pedestrians will have more space to cross.”

The police

“The number of vehicles is so much during the evenings that we really can’t check whether vehicles are beyond markers or on markers,” said traffic constable A.S. Patil, one of two officers at the site. Not that they try.

Quote:

"Metro Theatre Signal"

Pedestrian crossing marked?

No. Except for one on the road leading to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

The scene This is a junction of six roads. There is complete chaos due to work on the subway Vehicles . hurtle from all directions to the centre, the only open pedestrian space. Vehicle drivers had no regard for markers nor did the four traffic po licemen try to stop violations.

The pedestrian experience

Management trainee Lancelot D’Souza works in the Furtado building opposite Metro and has to cross the junction daily “The Metro signal . has become more dangerous since the work be gan," he rued. "Markers for pedestrians? When the entire traffic scene here is chaotic, do you think cops will bother to even check where the pedestrian markers are?”

The police

“Since the subway project is on, most of the zebra crossings have been erased. But we shall put them back into place. As of now, there’s so much chaos that we tend to ignore the markers. But once things normalise, we shall take action against all such violators,” said traffic consta ble G.R. Pawaskar.

Quote:

"Churchgate"

Pedestrian crossing marked?

Yes. but the paint is fading.

The scene This is a junction of five roads. There is a free-for-all of pedestrians at the narrow centre of the junction. Most of the road dividers have railings, forcing all pedestrians to cross the road across the narrow open area in the middle of the junction. Most of vehicles stood right onto the zebra markers. The police whistled to pedestrians, urging them to hurry .

The pedestrian experience

Clerk Sunilchandra Sinha said its a dodge em game for pedestrians. "Barricades force pedestrians to compulsorily come onto zebra crossing markers, but there’s no such compulsion for motorists who blatantly halt their vehicles over the markers," he complained. "The po lice should fine them."

The police

“Pedestrians are supposed to cross only from the subway and hence the duration for crossings is very short here. We regularly fine pedes trians and cyclists for violations. Since there’s a subway, the markers were not painted again.”

Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Mumbai Edition)
Date Of Publish: 13-Apr-07

manoj · 13-04-07, 10:08 AM

Why it’s time to think of the pedestrian

“This city has no regard for laws, and motorists openly flout all norms when it comes to pedestrians. I’ve seen instances of motorcycles stuck in traffic jumping onto the footpath.” That’s J.P. Desai, former traffic consultant with Mumbai’s planning authority, observing how the Mumbai police focus on fining pedestrians instead of vehicles. Purak Joshi, fined Rs 100 for jaywalking on Thursday morning at the Churchgate junction, would agree.

There is no city that ignores the pedestrian crossing like Mumbai, not even supposedly lawless Delhi (see story below). And while Mumbai’s traffic chief insists otherwise, it’s obvious pedestrians are at special risk in India’s booming financial metropolis.

Experts say it’s time the traffic police got serious. Architect and transport writer Jagdeep Desai suggests zebra crossings raised 3 cm to 5 cm above roads. Consumer Guidance Society of India activist A.V Shenoy has suggested that . traffic police use the cameras they have installed at major junctions to spot and fine violators.

Desai also proffers a typical Indian approach: Fine and detain the driver for an hour on the first offence, for two hours the second time, and so on.

Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Mumbai Edition)
Date Of Publish: 13-Apr-07

manoj · 13-04-07, 10:11 AM

Meanwhile, in lawless Delhi …

MARCH 27 was the day Justices Swatanter Kumar and H.R. Malhotra of the Delhi High Court read the riot act to the traffic police for their inability to stop the capital’s descent into chaos.

The crux of their order: all fines for traffic violations would now increase by Rs 500. If that does not seem like too much in these days of easy money, the traffic police now punch a hole in a violator’s licence.

Five punches and the licence is invalid. The police were given two weeks time to figure out how to implement the orders.

It was not too difficult — they simply started doing their job seriously .

So on Wednesday, day one of the crackdown, Delhi’s traffic police armed themselves with a new zeal of no-tolerance and fanned out across a city known for its broad, smooth roads but notorious for its road rage and tangled traffic.

Officers booked 7,381 roadusers, punched nearly 1,000 licences, seized 155 vehicles and booked drivers talking on cells, riding without helmets, jumping red lights and creeping onto pedestrian zones. That, said experts, was a very good start in a city of 5 million vehicles.

Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Mumbai Edition)
Date Of Publish: 13-Apr-07

dhoomk2 · 13-04-07, 11:46 AM

Pedestrian safety is always on the verge of negligence in India. Now is the time to handle this issue seriously. Some strict laws should also made for pedestrians so they can’t opt to 'jaywalking' to cross the road.

Anyways…nice news presentation manoj....keep it up

sameer · 13-04-07, 11:53 AM

Indeed Dhoomk2.....!!!

The first thing i do in the morning is to sneak through the headlines first at easy drive forum, and then eventually wish to start of my day....with other sources of news.

And the manner at which Manoj posts those, not only, are they extremely presentable, but seriously leaves an impact on you!!! while driving on the course of the day!!!!...

Thank you Manoj!! for making my life simpler!!

Wish Easy Drive Forum all the best!!!

manoj · 13-04-07, 12:24 PM

Thanks for your appreciation friends.

13-04-07, 10:08 AM	#2
manoj Easy Drive Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 355	Why it’s time to think of the pedestrian Why it’s time to think of the pedestrian “This city has no regard for laws, and motorists openly flout all norms when it comes to pedestrians. I’ve seen instances of motorcycles stuck in traffic jumping onto the footpath.” That’s J.P. Desai, former traffic consultant with Mumbai’s planning authority, observing how the Mumbai police focus on fining pedestrians instead of vehicles. Purak Joshi, fined Rs 100 for jaywalking on Thursday morning at the Churchgate junction, would agree. There is no city that ignores the pedestrian crossing like Mumbai, not even supposedly lawless Delhi (see story below). And while Mumbai’s traffic chief insists otherwise, it’s obvious pedestrians are at special risk in India’s booming financial metropolis. Experts say it’s time the traffic police got serious. Architect and transport writer Jagdeep Desai suggests zebra crossings raised 3 cm to 5 cm above roads. Consumer Guidance Society of India activist A.V Shenoy has suggested that . traffic police use the cameras they have installed at major junctions to spot and fine violators. Desai also proffers a typical Indian approach: Fine and detain the driver for an hour on the first offence, for two hours the second time, and so on. Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Mumbai Edition) Date Of Publish: 13-Apr-07 __________________ Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

13-04-07, 10:11 AM	#3
manoj Easy Drive Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 355	Meanwhile, in lawless Delhi … Meanwhile, in lawless Delhi … MARCH 27 was the day Justices Swatanter Kumar and H.R. Malhotra of the Delhi High Court read the riot act to the traffic police for their inability to stop the capital’s descent into chaos. The crux of their order: all fines for traffic violations would now increase by Rs 500. If that does not seem like too much in these days of easy money, the traffic police now punch a hole in a violator’s licence. Five punches and the licence is invalid. The police were given two weeks time to figure out how to implement the orders. It was not too difficult — they simply started doing their job seriously . So on Wednesday, day one of the crackdown, Delhi’s traffic police armed themselves with a new zeal of no-tolerance and fanned out across a city known for its broad, smooth roads but notorious for its road rage and tangled traffic. Officers booked 7,381 roadusers, punched nearly 1,000 licences, seized 155 vehicles and booked drivers talking on cells, riding without helmets, jumping red lights and creeping onto pedestrian zones. That, said experts, was a very good start in a city of 5 million vehicles. Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Mumbai Edition) Date Of Publish: 13-Apr-07 __________________ Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

13-04-07, 11:46 AM	#4
dhoomk2 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 62	Pedestrian safety is always on the verge of negligence in India. Now is the time to handle this issue seriously. Some strict laws should also made for pedestrians so they can’t opt to 'jaywalking' to cross the road. Anyways…*nice news presentation manoj....keep it up* Last edited by dhoomk2; 13-04-07 at 12:18 PM.

13-04-07, 12:24 PM	#6
manoj Easy Drive Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 355	Thanks for your appreciation friends. __________________ Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

13-04-07, 11:53 AM	#5
sameer New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 42	Indeed Dhoomk2.....!!! The first thing i do in the morning is to sneak through the headlines first at easy drive forum, and then eventually wish to start of my day....with other sources of news. And the manner at which Manoj posts those, not only, are they extremely presentable, but seriously leaves an impact on you!!! while driving on the course of the day!!!!... Thank you Manoj!! for making my life simpler!! Wish Easy Drive Forum all the best!!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pedestrian safety a mirage on Vadodara roads	pawan	Vadodara	3	17-04-07 10:13 AM
Pedestrian Safety in Delhi	manoj	Delhi	0	13-04-07 10:28 AM
Pedestrian-friendly signals	manoj	Hyderabad	4	15-02-07 12:01 PM
Great Indian Pedestrian	junaid	Humour	2	25-01-07 10:17 AM