Young pilot feels that strict fines, orientation modules & better traffic plans can propel his dream project

By A Test Pilot

(Part-II)

Implementation of P-108L Concept

Lane Traffic: The vehicles are required to follow their lane depending on the speed of travel and the traffic is to be organized into parallel corridors. Appropriate markings are required on the road to follow speed limits. The faster traffic lane is to be towards the divider and the slower traffic lane is to be at the left of the faster lane. Appropriate markings are required on the lane at least 1 km before the next junction to indicate the direction in which the vehicles are permitted to turn at the next junction. While crossing lanes in the same direction, drivers can shift lanes, but they are required to do so in such a manner that does not cause inconvenience to other drivers. Along with lane discipline, the specified distance between vehicles needs to be maintained. While this is easily implementable for three/four wheeler vehicles, it is important for this to be enforced for two-wheelers also.

Office Hours: The office hours have the maximum traffic density in morning and evening. The only way to reduce traffic density is to reduce the number of vehicles. This can be effectively done by car pool. However, individuals prefer travelling in their own cars for office.  Car pools can be effectively initiated by offering incentives. The lane reserved for Emergency Services can be allowed for those cars accommodating four people during office hours. This would reduce the traffic density and permit faster traffic flow. In case any Emergency Service is required to move during office hours, enough space would be available because of lane discipline for the pooled car to vacate the way of Emergency Service Vehicle.

No Stopping: In order to ensure smooth traffic flow, vehicles are required to be barred from stopping on the main road. Vehicles including auto-rickshaws would be required to stop only in the by-lanes/streets/spaces available off the main road.

Bus/Truck Lane: All buses/trucks would be required to use the left-most lane. If this would require the buses to stop one behind the other because of bus stop of the bus ahead, the buses behind would be required to wait, unless the road has three or more lanes in the same direction.

Changing Lanes: Changing lanes would be permitted without causing inconvenience to adjacent drivers. Since Safe Separation Distance would be maintained between vehicles, it would be convenient for the drivers to change lanes without causing discomfort to other drivers.

More Than Two-Lane Main Road: The above paragraphs have described the concept for a two-lane road. Same concept can be used for greater than two-lane roads also.

Roads Constrained by Space: Where the main road itself is not very wide, the concept can be implemented by allowing the Emergency Services to use the lane in between the traffic moving in opposite directions. That is, the space occupied by the divider would be used by Emergency Services as shown in Fig 1 below.

Fig 1: Emergency Service Vehicle in roads constrained by space.

Non-Powered Vehicles: Non-powered vehicles would be required to use the leftmost lane only. They would be permitted to overtake a stopped bus provided it does not cause inconvenience to the other lane vehicles. Only bicycles can be allowed to use the footpath/pavement.

Actions Required to be Taken: Most of the Traffic Police Commissioners might site reasons of lack of manpower, resources and no support from Government. The first thing for anybody who sees this as an impossible idea is that today, whatever development has happened in India, was thought of as impossible 20 years ago. In spite of the thought process 20 years ago, some people stood for a cause. The result is today we have a Well-Aware Media, Easy Access to Information, Good Network in Telecommunication (Mobiles) and Banks (ATMs) and many more. The result is we have a better, easier and a more convenient life now. All aimed only at making our life filled with Happiness, Satisfaction and Fulfillment.

Hence, without going into reasons for not making it happen, let’s work towards reasons that will make it happen.

Action 1: Let’s assume that nobody knows traffic rules (because nobody follows them the way they are supposed to be). With this assumption, the traffic department should prepare an orientation capsule describing the details of the P-108L. The traffic department should organize compulsory orientation capsule at various locations across the city. Make it mandatory for the citizens to finish this capsule by a specific deadline. (For eg:- All vehicles using Old Airport Road in Bangalore to undergo an orientation capsule mandatorily at designated centers by a specific date). Provide an orientation capsule sticker and make it mandatory for vehicles to display the sticker on their vehicles. (This is only required to initiate implementation. Once done, the Project would become self-sustaining, and the requirement of stickers can be done away with).

Action 2: Declaration of Deadline (Date) by Traffic Commissioner for implementation of this Project area-wise. (For eg:- Project to be implemented at Old Airport Road with effect from a specific date).

Action 3: The full name of the Project is: “We Care for Your Life-108 Lane.” This implies that an individual is absolved of his responsibility to follow the Road Discipline. It is the responsibility of everyone to follow the Project. Hence, although the defaulter needs to be punished, a penalty on the vehicles around the defaulter also needs to be introduced. This can be done by penalties as follows:-

Monetary Fine:  Media displaying pictures daily of one vehicle hindering the implementation of the Project, with the name of Owner. This would be done in collaboration with Traffic Department. Newspaper should display the picture of this vehicle along with owner name on one side. News channels should display the same every evening at 9 pm for 1 minute, since this is the time most Indians watch news. This would cause embarrassment to that individual. Also, linking this with heavy fine would get the rogues in line. (This would be required in the initial stages of the Project. Once implemented, the Project would become self-sustained and this practice can be stopped)

Action 4: This concept should become a part of School Curriculum. It would instill of self-discipline right from a very young age and ultimately, enforce the adults to follow suit.

Conclusion: No value in the world is greater than human life. And this life is not about strangers, but our near and dear ones in our families. Hence, P-108L promises to ensure health, security and conducive environment for our children, parents, and family members to live in. Here is my key recommendations:

1.      Traffic department must initiate actions.

2.      Lane Discipline must be ensured.

3.      Minimum Safe Separation Distance between vehicles must be maintained.

4.      Appropriate markings must be placed on road to follow speed limits.

5.      Appropriate markings to indicate the direction of traffic flow must be marked at least 1 km before the next signal junction.

6. Car pool incentive must be offered in office hours.

(Series concludes. It mainly reflects the traffic scenario in India and the need to improve it. Article posted with minimum editing. Part-1 here)

P-108L: Young LCA pilot goes on a solo with novel emergency traffic plan

By Tejas Test Pilot

I am overwhelmed by the response the trailer piece on P-108L generated in the last couple of days. Here’s the first part of my dream project.

Emergency Services: Emergency services in India comprise of any service that is required to be provided to an individual or a group of individuals in distress. In distress, the emergency services are required to reach a specific location immediately. The word ‘immediately’ implies that the service should be made available As Soon As Possible (ASAP). In any nature of Distress, the specific care required by the human-beings is Rescue, Medical and Security as elaborated below:-

1.1.       Rescue Services:  Rescue Services comprise of those services required to be provided in Natural and Man-made Disasters, as elaborated under the mechanism of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). These services are provided by Disaster Response Force (DRF), Fire Services and any other force that is tasked to undertake the Rescue Work.

1.2.       Medical Services:          Medical Services provide essential first aid and mobile hospital care at the location of the Disaster. These are provided by Ambulances, both from Government and Private Hospitals in the country.

1.3.       Security:     Security Services are provided by mainly the Police, and where tasked, by other Security Forces as well.

2.            Means of Providing Emergency Services: In India, the Emergency Services are currently being provided through:

2.1.       Individual requests to nearest Police Station / Security Establishment / Fire Station and Hospital.

2.2.       Call on Telephone Number (Tel No) 108 provided by GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) in partnership with State Governments of some states. viz. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Goa, Chennai, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Assam Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh. This service is slowly being extended to other states as well.

3.            Hurdle in Accessing Emergency Services: The Emergency Services are available even on a phone call, but they still have to cross a major hurdle (traffic) before they can reach the disaster location. Enough instances and examples are available when a human life could not be saved due to delay in availability of required service caused by road traffic.

4.   AIM: The aim of this Document is to create a possibility for the Emergency Services to ply on roads irrespective of traffic. This Project is aimed to create an opportunity to bring prosperity, well-being and development for our countrymen.

5.   The Project (P-108L)

5.1.       In India, the general public opinion is “Human Life is very Cheap.” It can be sacrificed for anything. Anything means anything, be it for corruption, power, personal gains etc. etc. If we are to look at our country not at the level of community, but at an individual level, we realize that every individual wants his life to be filled with Happiness, Satisfaction and Fulfillment, be it a beggar on the street or the richest person on earth. That is why, at individual level, we show care for only those people who love us. Hence, the starting point for this Project is to shower love and care for those near and dear ones in our families. Taking this concept to the level of Communities, Society and Country, the Project is named “We Care for Your Life”.

5.2.       As mentioned in para 2, the Tel No.108 is being identified as a Common Number for providing emergency services in various states across the country. This service is being slowly extended to other states as well. Hence, the name tag – “108 Lane”.

6.   Purpose of the Project: The purpose of the Project is to enable the Emergency Services to move swiftly from one place to another inspite of the prevailing traffic on roads. Specifically, it is envisaged to implement the concept on all the main roads within a city with at least two lanes in one direction. It is not intended for implementation on the inner roads, bylanes and streets.

7.            Concept:     The starting point to implement this Project is implementation of road discipline, as laid down by the Traffic Authorities. This will create the access for Emergency Services to move swiftly to any location.

CONSTRAINTS

8.            Large Number of Vehicles: A large number of vehicles ply on the roads. This increases the traffic to a big extent, leaving no extra space for Emergency Services.

9.            Limited Space on Roads: Most of the main roads have two-lanes in one direction, leaving no extra space for Emergency Services.

10.         Traffic Jam: With the kind of Traffic Jams prevailing in the country, creation of space for Emergency Services looks to be impossible.

11.         Indifferent Attitude of People: People are insensitive to the requirement of Emergency Service to pass through quickly and do not provide appropriate space. Even if they want to, the traffic situation prevents them from doing so.

12.         Different Varieties of Vehicles: There are different varieties of vehicles plying on roads:-

12.1.    Non-Powered Vehicles

12.1.1.               Bicycles

12.1.2.               Tricycles

12.2.    Powered Vehicles

12.2.1.               Two-Wheelers: Motorcycle, Scooter, Mopeds etc.

12.2.2.               Three-Wheelers:  Autorickshaw, Scooter with side car.

12.2.3.               Four-Wheelers: Car, Bus, Truck.

12.3.    With the available number of vehicles and limited space on roads, the different varieties of vehicles get heavily congested on roads, leaving no extra space for Emergency Services to ply on roads.

Solutions to Existing Constraints

13.         The solution to all the existing roads is only one – Road Discipline. Implementation of Traffic Rules as designed is the access to provide space for Emergency Services, irrespective of traffic.

 14.         Lane Discipline: The Traffic Rules explicitly state the requirement to maintain lane discipline. If lane discipline is followed, 108 Lane can be provided as mentioned below.

14.1.    Organized Lanes: All the main roads are clearly marked to differentiate lanes. However, these are not followed as per the markings. Infect, two lanes are most of the times converted into three or four lanes by utilizing the space available in between two lanes as shown in Fig 1. This practice is required to be stopped. The number of columns of vehicles would have to be equal to the number of lanes on the road as shown in Fig 2.

Fig 1: Unorganized utilization of marked lanes

Fig 2: Organized utilization of marked lanes

Apprehension:  The number of vehicles on the roads is large. Organized utilization of Marked Lanes would result in these vehicles occupying a greater length of road.

Window of Opportunity: The apprehension is correct. And this is the access to allow smooth, fast and swift movement of traffic. The space available due to Organized Utilization of Marked Lanes enables following possibilities:-

(a)          While the vehicles would occupy a greater length of road, it would result in them stopping at a particular place for a greater duration. However, organized lanes would ensure faster movement of traffic, resulting in lesser fuel consumption and less polluted environment. This would provide confidence to the drivers that as the traffic eases out, they would get space to drive with an adequate speed that would neither tire them, nor be harsh on the vehicle machinery.

(b)         Creation of space for Emergency Services to move over the lane marking.

14.2.    Adequate Separation between Vehicles:  The vehicles maintaining lane discipline are required to maintain safe separation from the adjacent vehicle. However, this is not followed in India. Safe separation distance would allow the vehicles to get repositioned which would create space for Emergency Service Vehicle to pass through as shown in Figs 3 and 4.

Fig 3: Safe separation distance between adjacent vehicles

Fig 4: Emergency service vehicle passing in between two lanes

Apprehension

(a)          The number of vehicles on the roads is large. Safe separation distance between adjacent vehicles in organized lanes would result in these vehicles occupying a greater length of road.

(b)         Traffic Jam: There are two kinds of traffic jams prevailing in the country. (i) in which the vehicles move at a very slow speed for a long duration and (ii) in which vehicles remain at a static position for a long duration. In traffic jam scenario, this concept cannot be implemented.

Window of Opportunity

(a)          The apprehension is valid. And this is the access to allow smooth, fast and swift movement of traffic as mentioned under para 14.1.

(b)         Traffic Jam: In both the kinds of traffic jams, vehicles move on road bumper to bumper, resulting in slow speed driving, growing impatience, frustration, anger etc. over the situation of traffic jam. With the implementation of 108 Lane Concept, the vehicles would remain halted at a given position for a longer time, but whenever they move, they would move at a fast speed of approximately 50 kmph. Thus, the overall time spent in travelling would be either same as the present situation, or even lesser. It would also reduce fuel consumption, give better road mileage for our vehicles and reduce pollution in our environment.

15.         Result of Project Implementation: Today, we live in a better world because of our ancestors and previous generations. Similarly, this Project would enable our children and generations ahead to live in a stress-free and hazard-free environment.

(To be concluded with next part. The

piece is posted with minimum editing.)

P-108L: Tejas Test Pilot touches down with an innovative emergency traffic solution

By LCA Test Pilot

I was going through Tarmak and really got inspired by the caption of the Forum of Defense and Aerospace Journalists, Bangalore (FDAJB) -- Together, We Shall... A link from the blog took me further to the Inspired Indian Foundation website and I found another line, which read: If India has to change, WE must change first.

Inspired by both, I decided that the time has come for me to share with the world, something that has been very special to me. And, if anyone is surprised why I chose Tarmak, the answer is simple. Every pilot who joins the LCA Team in Bangalore won't miss a stroll on Brigade Road and surfing Tarmak – an exciting blog for the plane clan.

My dream: Project 108 Lane (P-108L) is my baby. It envisages provisioning of Emergency Services like ambulance, fire and police to ply on roads, irrespective of traffic. This project has an opportunity to create a safe and secure environment for our near and dear ones to live in the future. It will bring about well-being, prosperity and development.
About me: I am working as Test Pilot at Aeronautical Development Agency and flight testing the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Well, why I have initiated P-108L not because I belong to the Armed Forces, because I am a citizen of this country. And I feel it is my duty to carry out tasks which benefit me, my families, friends, relatives, communities, society, state and ultimately, the country. Also, if nothing is done now, the present state will remain in the future too. So, why not initiate something that will better our lives?
Present Scenario: In the present scenario, there is commotion and chaos on roads. People have no concern for fellow road travelers; want to reach their destination in the fastest time possible causing impatience, restlessness, dissatisfaction etc. This in turn results into abrasions, quarrels, fights, incidents, accidents and ultimately, in some cases -- death. And everyone is affected by it including mine and your near and dear ones. Also, there is no concern if there is an ambulance sounding a horn behind. Hardly anybody moves aside to give way, which can well be the cause of that patent's death. More lives could have been saved in Carlton Towers Fire at Bangalore, had the fire brigades reached earlier.
Probable Future: If no action is taken now, this scenario will only get worse in the future. Impatience in my generation is much more than my father's generation and its only increasing in the future generations. This would invariably result in more accidents and deaths in the future. And the people involved could be your\mine near or dear ones, too.
What change will this Project bring?: Implementation of P-108L will save many human lives. It would instill a sense of self-discipline, patience, concern and care for others, organized road traffic and ultimately, a beautiful country to live in.
What have I done till now?:  Since, I am currently posted in Bangalore, I have shared the details of P-108L with Additional Traffic Commissioner of Police (Bangalore) Praveen Sood. I have also shared the idea with former President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who in turn gave a very positive feedback. I have also emailed the P-108L details to many others too, including some of the leading national channels and newspapers. It’s now the time to get public awareness about P-108L and ultimately force the administration to implement it.

My request: I therefore request your active participation in this P-108L. At the end, what matters is the environment in which we live. Today, I am grateful to our previous generations that I have freedom to do whatever I can in my country. Similarly, if P-108L gets implemented, the future generation will live in safer and a more secure environment.
Finally…I am not interested in my name getting associated with P-108L. I am only interested in having the most amazing environment for my children, your children and our communities to live in.

(What’s P-108L? Coming soon on Tarmak007)