What's wrong with Pune drivers? Part 1

In these series of parts I am going to identify the habbits of Pune drivers which I find highly objectionable! I do try to follow that I don't suffer these habbits. If I have ever enacted it, I will add an disclaimare at the end of each post.

When drivers are standing at the red signal (if they at all), where do they look?
Well, most of them at the signal, waiting for it to turn green.
Guess again!
Pune drivers are different!
They look at the signal post meant for the opposite lane drivers. Waiting for it to tunr yellow.
As soon as it turns yellow, they go merrlily their way irrespective of the fact that their signal may still be red. So what if this is dangerous. Pune people's driving IQ level is so low, they can not fathom this is a dangerous habbit.
Delayed signal can never work in Pune.

Pune politics

Pune city is currently cought in cross-fire between two heavy weights trying to control the power, the money and those having former. One is Suresh Kalmadi and the other is Sharad Pawar. Kalmadi is actually an ex-Pawar camper. It seems he currently controls PMC. By control, I mean he has the mayor (Kareer) in pocket. Pawar has installed his nephew (Ajit Pawar) as guardian minister for Pune, you know a paraller center of power. What one party proposes, the other party disposes. It's the Pune residents who suffer. Lot of talk about sorry state of Pune City infrastructure. No political will. In fact, political will is towards putting as many as hurdles as possible.

However, money has uniting power as nothing other.

There is this mass transport scheme Kalmadi camp is promoting: Sky Bus. Basically a single module on steal cable overhead. All technical people seem to be against it. Kalmadi camp is pushing it nontheless. You know what! It might just be implemented. Why? Simple. New project, larger fund allocation (than say improving the current mass transport), more money to pocket. I'm pretty sure the 'strong money force' in the Pune 'nucleas' will be able to hold the positively charged 'protons' together, irrespective of their natural tendancy to resist each other.

Will it be good for Pune citizens? Hardly. Its anyway impractical to implement on the inner-city Pune roads where the problem is accute. On wider road, it will just add one more thing that will go horribly wrong at the worst possibe time. But who cares! Its not as if Pune citizen have any choice in electing someone else who might do something different.

Pune traffic

This is about general driving situation in Pune (India). It's kind of unique. Pune never enjoyed even decent public transportation. In addition it has a maze of narrow roads in area which used to be heart of the city. Affordability, maneuverability, necessity whatever lead to high ratio of 2 wheelars to other vehicles. The maneuverability offered by a 2 wheelar, the absolute necessity of maintaining balance and the general lack of law enforcement has lead to a situation where majority of the drivers do not have any kind of driving sense. Breaking traffic signals, cutting across diagonally (and slowing down in front of you), reckless driving is a norm. The number of accidents (fatal/non) is pretty high. Given the recklessness, physical limiation of 2 wheelar and the congestion, it's no surprise. In majority of the cases, in my opinion, the blame lies equally with the 2 wheelar driver. I'm yet to spot a driver who takes atleast a cursory glance backward before crossing his front wheel. It's your life! And, on top of that, you don't want to wear helmet.