Pooja Rani
In recent months, commuting on city roads has become increasingly difficult due to extensive road repair and infrastructure work. Excavated stretches, loose gravel, uncovered drains, dust clouds, traffic diversions, and the absence of clear signage have transformed daily travel into a stressful experience for thousands of commuters. For two-wheeler riders in particular, these conditions demand heightened alertness and patience at every turn.
Like many working professionals, I commute to my office daily on a two-wheeler. While this mode of transport is economical and time-saving, it also exposes riders directly to dust, pollution, and road hazards-especially during construction work. To safeguard myself from excessive dust and breathing discomfort, I recently started wearing a face mask while riding.
It was during one such routine commute earlier this week that an incident occurred which, though brief, raised serious questions about civic sense, traffic discipline, and our collective responsibility on the roads.
As I approached a turn on my way to the office, I suddenly encountered an elderly man
riding his vehicle on the wrong side of the road. The turn was narrow, visibility was poor due to dust, and loose stones were scattered across the surface. Recognizing the immediate risk of a collision, I stopped my vehicle without hesitation and gave him adequate space to pass safely.
Situations like these are becoming alarmingly frequent. Wrong-side driving, often justified as a shortcut or a momentary convenience, has almost become normalized during road repair work. What is often overlooked is that such behavior places not only the violator but also law-abiding commuters at risk.
In an attempt to keep the situation calm, I smiled politely-hoping that a simple gesture of cooperation would convey understanding and prevent unnecessary conflict. However, the mask I was wearing concealed that smile. What was intended as courtesy was misinterpreted as resistance.
Instead of acknowledging the effort to avoid an accident, the man began arguing. What shocked me most was his remark: “This is a road-what do you mean by right side?” The statement was startling in its simplicity and disturbing in its implication. If the very concept of right and wrong sides of the road is questioned, it raises an unsettling concern about how traffic systems can function at all.
Traffic rules are not abstract ideas imposed arbitrarily. They are the result of long-standing experience, safety studies, and collective understanding. Roads are shared public spaces, and their safe functioning depends on predictability. When everyone follows the same set of rules, accidents are minimized and movement becomes smoother. When individuals choose personal convenience over discipline, chaos replaces order.
Wrong-side driving is not a minor infraction. It significantly increases the risk of head-on collisions-one of the most fatal types of road accidents. During road construction, when surfaces are uneven and visibility compromised, such behavior becomes even more dangerous. A moment’s impatience can lead to irreversible consequences.
The incident also highlighted a deeper issue: the gradual erosion of civic courtesy. A nod of acknowledgment, a pause to allow safe passage, or a willingness to follow basic rules can prevent countless conflicts. Unfortunately, impatience and entitlement increasingly replace empathy on our roads.
Age, urgency, or familiarity with a route cannot justify indiscipline. In fact, seniority should ideally bring greater responsibility and awareness. Road safety is not about who asserts dominance, but about who values life-one’s own and that of others.
Poor infrastructure and delayed repair work undoubtedly test public patience. Frustration is understandable. However, when roads are already unsafe, abandoning discipline only compounds the danger. It is precisely during such challenging conditions that greater caution, patience, and cooperation are required from all road users.
Another important aspect this incident brings to light is communication in a changing social environment. Masks, now commonly used due to pollution and health concerns, may hide facial expressions, but they should not hide our intentions or responsibilities. In the absence of visible expressions, our actions-slowing down, stopping, giving way-become even more important signals of civic behavior.
Civic sense is not enforced by traffic police alone. It is cultivated through everyday choices made by ordinary citizens. Following rules when no one is watching, showing restraint when provoked, and prioritizing safety over haste are signs of a mature society.
Roads often mirror the social values of a community. Where discipline prevails, roads are safer. Where rules are ignored, accidents become frequent and trust erodes. Each commuter contributes, consciously or unconsciously, to the culture of the road.
Masks may cover our faces, but they should never cover our sense of responsibility. A functioning society depends on small, consistent acts of discipline. Respect for traffic rules is not merely a legal obligation-it is a moral commitment we make to protect one another.
If each of us chooses responsibility over convenience, patience over aggression, and discipline over defiance, our roads can become safer spaces for everyone. In doing so, we not only prevent accidents but also reaffirm the values of mutual respect and shared responsibility that hold society together.
(The writer is Assistant professor (Education), Jammu)