Vehicular traffic in the capital city is getting worse every passing day. It is increasing dangerous to drive and commute in these times. This can be testified by the growth in the incidents of traffic accidents. Largely to blame for this are the erring vehicle drivers and pedestrians who do not follow the traffic rules. These are flouted by reckless drivers who have the least considerations for others, since for the most part they can go away with their offences as the traffic police are prone to look the other way even when such activities take place before their nose. Every year a traffic week is organised when the policemen and policemen exercise extra vigil. On these occasions, they are strict about slapping fines. Various NGOs also participate then trying to make the pedestrians and vehicle drivers observe the traffic rules. This appears to work and the traffic appears to be more managed and organised. Once the traffic week is over things return to square one. Then for better or worse

chaos again reigns in the capital’s streets.

The traffic police have the demanding task of managing the traffic. They had at one time even brought about the innovative scheme of informing the concerned about the traffic situation by phone as well as the FM radio. It appears the public were not too enthusiastic about this and the whole idea petered out. Again we hear about corrupt traffic policemen who let off defaulting vehicle drivers for a tidy sum. There also complaints that these policemen are often rude, although they have been taught and trained to be polite when they carry out their duty. No doubt their job is not an easy one, but they should make an effort to maintain their composure while on duty. There should be no laxity on their part and the traffic

rules’ enforcers should go to all extent to see that they are strictly adhered to, no matter who the offenders are.

What needs to be mentioned here is that the roads in the capital are simply not enough to accommodate the large number of vehicles. Every day hundreds of four wheelers and motorcycles are sold, thus adding to the traffic congestion. Either the sales of vehicles should be restricted or more roads built so as to deal with this. Given the fact that this country is resource crunched, it might be difficult to procure the finance to construct more roads for the time being for it is not practical to always depend on foreign aid for this purpose. So the only way out, at present, is to manage the traffic better. Some complain that the provision for one way routes should be applied on more roads, whereas they are impractical in others where these are now enforced. Some junctions are particularly notorious for traffic jams. So special attention should be made to ensure the flow of traffic here by, among other things, increasing

the number of cops in these places. We often notice the policemen taking things easy and simply loitering around, not caring a hoot about the jams. However, we have to thank the majority of traffic policemen and women for being serious about their job and doing their best, and we hope that their claim of an improved traffic system is not hollow.