Driving doesn’t include just the know-how of operating a vehicle. You have to follow some basic etiquettes as well like giving way for vehicles coming out of parking spots or from their driveway, driving on the left lane when you’re going slow to let faster cars overtake from the right lane, driver and passenger(s) not littering on the road/roadside while driving/riding being some of them.
This one time, I was driving out from the fuel station opposite Hotel Tragopan and was about to head west towards Vishal Mega Mart, but this uncivilized driver heading east towards old flyover who’s already stuck in traffic, instead of keeping a gap for me and the others behind me to pass, drove very close to the car in front of him, thereby halting us and causing an 11 minute jam which could have been avoided.
I drive a commercial vehicle sometimes and the level of disrespect shown by others driving LMVs and two wheelers is through the roof. This one time, I was carrying a load of 20 L water jars in the cargo deck and was about to make a turn to enter lane 10 of Kuda C but was unable to, all because approaching vehicles from the opposite direction were stuck in traffic and blocked my entry. However, this douchebag bike rider blew his horn in a sustained manner from behind me as if I had stopped my vehicle intentionally in the middle of the road. I rolled my eyes so hard, I saw my brain.
There’s also this particular Govt. Servant who drives a black Mahindra Scorpio bearing regd. No. NL 10 5**1, he drives as if he owns the road and keeps honking from behind as if expecting me to fly to make way for him. To him I want to say, “even though I’m driving a commercial vehicle (Tata Yodha), it’s registered in my name, you’re not driving your own car, your profession as the title suggests is of a ‘servant’ so take whatever ego you have, roll it up real nice, tie it up with a ribbon and throw it in a river nearby.”
Lately, I’ve been coming across some traffic personnel stationed outside Dulux paint shop on the opposite of Padum Pukhuri gate who always stops commercial vehicles to check vehicle documents like Pollution under control certificate and Insurance, etc.
Even though they’ve stopped us (my mother and I) a couple days ago and couldn’t charge any fines, that prick on duty still insists to stop us again and again. It’s not like we were wearing Iron Man’s helmet or Batman’s cowl on the previous days, he could easily recognise us but still, he stops us, what a buzzkill.
Be very patient while driving, give way for other vehicles, you’re not driving an emergency vehicle so losing a maximum of three to five seconds won’t affect your life. Just because you’re behind the wheel doesn’t make you a metahuman nor does it make pedestrians Inhumans. You’re still as human as the other person walking so give way for pedestrians to cross the road without the need to run.
Do not park on one side of the road if the other side is already occupied by a stationary vehicle because this also causes a jam. Some people park their cars by swallowing half or an entire lane, stop doing that, it only causes problems for other drivers. If you’re going straight through an intersection e.g. at Green park and Agri Expo junctions, etc., please, please choose the right lane and prevent vehicles going left at these intersection from getting stuck. The foot bridges are built for Pedestrians, definitely not for vehicles so pedestrians should make use of foot bridges wherever available instead of crossing the road like circus clowns. Don’t simply push the accelerator pedal to the floor just because the road is good as the majority of vehicular accidents take place when you’re speeding. Be smart, be patient, give it way.
Avilie Nagi
Daroga Pathar village.
Friday, September 11, 2026