Mending Attitudes

The vehicles running on the roads of Gurgaon have a peculiar attitude of dominating. Whatever the vehicle is, the mentality of the driver remains the same. The bigger vehicles always push away the smaller ones. One needs to give space to the bigger one when it comes nearer. Being an IT hub, Gurgaon accommodates the maximum number of staff-cab running twenty four hours on the road. Most companies extend help to its staff by providing transport facilities, but fail in controlling their drivers. These drivers break the traffic rules and decorum wherever possible. It is because of them that the other domestic and commercial drivers give in to the situation, and maintain the procedures dictated by the unruly Qualis and Indica. The sudden change of lanes by these vehicles, pushing away two-wheelers, rickshaws on the edges of the roads, unnecessarily honking behind other cars, forcing their vehicles to jump awkwardly on speed breakers due to non-adherence to slowing down, are regular features of Gurgaon roads. It's true that we are living in a fast and competitive life and are subjected to move faster. But honestly, is it not the complex in ourselves that we often degrade others by pushing them aside.

These days, we speak of India to become a developed country by 2020. True, the present annual growth of economy and an economist Prime Minister at the helm of affairs, would definitely take us to achieve this feat by means of the economy of the country. But it's equally true that we are miles behind the people of the developed countries when it comes to the behaviour of a common man. It's likely that after we achieve the tag of a developed nation economically, we would need a Prime Minister who would teach us how one should be virtuous. In any city of Europe and United States, any child can move across using zebra-crossing. Any pedestrian touching the zebra-crossing, forces the drivers to use their legs on the clutch and brakes. They simply do not compromise on the issue. And here, every women at home gasps heavily with relief when they find their husbands return home safe in the evening. Elderly people, women and children are scared of trudging.

We simply need to change our attitudes. The attitude of respect for others, caring for the weak, helping children and soft approach towards the women are really the need of the hour. Honestly, we have forgotton all these virtues. These values are only restricted inside home and before the boss. The concept “that I have a decent car and I can reach office or home in lesser time and at my own convenience” creates all the trouble. If a car owner or a driver of a vehicle feels the way a commoner who uses the public transport does, it would make the job half done. Under the present circumstances where the load of vehicles are higher than the capacity of the road, the only solution that could give joyful driving is by maintaining a well defined road behaviour which is completely missing in our city. It's not the decent roads that make the city beautiful, it's the attitude of the people using the roads that paves the way in creating a modern, serene but fervent city.

Therefore, the first and foremost pursuit would be that the heavier vehicle should give way to the lighter ones, instead of scaring them. It must not only be applicable for trucks or the buses, this rule involves all the vehicles. Even a motorcyclist must tender his softness towards a rikshawpuller and the pedestrians. In doing so, we may reach our destination few minutes later, but the people waiting for us would surely have a good time waiting. If the heavier vehicle adopts the theory of 'pehle aap', the city would surely be termed as a cosmopolitan city. When the migrant birds go back to their home, they should have a good reminisce. Gurgaon really needs that reputation.