Letter to the Editor-Traffic cops’ do they know what they are doing?
Posted on September 10th, 2011

By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela.

Everyone knows that the traffic from Wellawathe to Dehiwela is at snailƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s pace after 5p.m. nowadays. Usually the backlog from any of the traffic lights extend to a distance over one to two miles, without exaggeration.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  However two weeks back on a Saturday, when I got out ofDelmonHospital, I was surprised to find there wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  no blocks, , no traffic jam and I could reach home in Vanderwert place within almost 5 minutes! What was the reason, yes, you guessed it, there were no cops on the way and because of that, there were no blocking of the crossings at theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  boulards. Vehicles were turning into the side lanes wherever there was a gap in the boulard and the traffic was moving fast and smooth. Was there any reason for lesser traffic that day? Not to my knowledge. no holidays, no curfews, no politician passing that way. Why were the cops absent? I donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t know. However their absence definitely had a positive effect.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Even if this popular theoryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ that wherever there is a traffic cop there will be a traffic jam, is not true, no one has proved it so. Whoever decided on the idea of blocking all the side traffic and letting all the vehicles go on the main stream, to one or the other end, before the take a u turn, does not know what they are talking about, as it was pointed outƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  by some experts in some recent articles.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The copsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  are ASSUMINGƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  that it will ease the congestion by doing so. As often said, when you ASS-U-ME, you make an Ass of U and me. No one has done a controlled study whether it is the truth and the public too, are meekly following without protest, onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  whateverƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  decided upon.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Imagine the scenario- when I come out of Vanderwert place and want to goƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  into a lane on the opposite side, or to the Dehiwela junction, IƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  was prevented from taking a u turn anywhere up to the junction opposite Vihara lane in Wellawathe! Imagine the waste of time, petrol and man power if 100 such motorists incur! This at 4 .30 p.m., when the real traffic has not evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  started.

Very fewƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ actuallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  only one cop I thinkƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ uses his brains, checks the opposite traffic and allows the u turns at other places.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  All the others seem to be greatly enjoyingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the frustrationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  on the face of the harried motorists!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This theory is absurd! Whenever the side rivers of mainstream are blocked, obviously the flood in the river is going to overflow. That is what is happening now. The cops are assuming that turningƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of a vehicle will slow downƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the traffic, but what they do not seem to realize is that such block will happen only if the oppositeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  traffic does nto give way for a vehicle to turn into the side lane quickly. As at every 5 feet there is a cop, it will be simple and effective to stop the opposite traffic for a minute and let the turningƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  vehicles out. Simple, my dear Watson, but then there are no Sherlock Holmes in the traffic department. All they seem to have are some simple Simons!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All it needs is to do a controlled study. Yes the traffic varies for various reasons. But for one week the police must allow the motorists to turn at the breaks in the boualrds and another week keep them blocked. The third week let the cops make intelligent choices. Train the cops to allow the motorists to take a u turn when the opposite traffic is sparse.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Will some saner counsel prevail regarding the traffic or are we doomed to fall prey forever to some dumb decision made by some unthinking higher up?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ By Dr. Mrs. Mareena Thaha Reffai Dehiwela.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

2 Responses to “Letter to the Editor-Traffic cops’ do they know what they are doing?”

  1. Raj Says:

    It is only 1 kilometer from Vanderwert place to Dehiwela. You could have walked. It is better for your health! And also 1 vehicle less on the busy road.

  2. Leela Says:

    In my pinion, there are few ways to reduce traffic congestion. Implement new modes of transport (under ground) to enable people to move about. Complete the proposed ‘ring road’ and ‘outer circular road’ soon as possible to keep bypassing traffic away from the city. Just like army head quarters being moved out of the city, except a very few old schools, move out all other popular schools to new areas around the outer circular road. And I am sure there are many other suggestions that could to implemented to help reduce traffic congestion.

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