It’s not strictly about rules; driving in a traffic discipline can save lives. In Bilekahalli, Bengaluru, an incident on 28 February at around 12:30 pm illustrated how lack of care for a parking situation can cause serious problems. A man parked his car directly in the middle of a road to a laundry store. His failure to alter the position resulted in a traffic jam, and even an ambulance transporting a patient in emergency was trapped.
The man, who had parked at the main road, went into the laundry shop in order to go for personal work. When asked to move the car to the side to provide a clear road, he shouted back again, saying there was no “No Parking” board, and demanded he park there. His arrogance set off a chain reaction, as cars began waiting in line behind his car. Among those people trapped in the jam was an ambulance with a patient desperately in need. The obstruction made by the road served to demonstrate the dangers of irresponsibility.
As the minutes went on, more cars, bikes and autos mounted onto the road. Drivers were honking around and around but the man would not listen. And the situation had fast descended into chaos as people bickered and vented exasperation. The ambulance driver tried to maneuver them through the traffic but was stuck as a result of the blockage.
The incident shows how the careless response of one person can have widespread consequences for many others. But blocking a road is not just an inconvenience -- it can be dangerous when the traffic is filled with emergency vehicles. This time, the patient in the ambulance had to wait longer, which actually could have made their condition even worse.
This episode simply reminds us that civic duty is about as much about being socially responsible as it is about convenience. Parking regulations are supposed to protect from traffic. Even if there is no “No Parking” board, it is common wisdom not to block off busy streets. Public space must be respected and for others, especially in emergencies, there must be some thought of it.
The Bilekahalli tragedy epitomizes, as it does so many others, how arrogance and negligence can be deadly. The citizens should also be familiar that roads are a common area and their blocking can be deadly. An injection of patience and humility can avert disorder and above all, provide for the lives of others.
