Anyone who drives a car in Mumbai needs to know the pecking order on the roads. As I moved up the vehicle ranks, I realised that I have fallen lower in the traffic food chain. There were times when I was the King, oh how I have fallen!!!
To quote a famous Amitabh Bachchan dialogue from Agneepath “Kehne ko toh yeh shehar hai, par yahaan jungle ka kanoon chalta hai. Yahaan par har taqatwar apne se kum taqatwar ko kha jaata hai.”(Roughly translated: “This may be a city, but ruled by the laws of the jungle. Every strong species eliminates the lesser species here.”)
Here’s how it looks like on the Mumbai roads –
- Traffic ecosystem on Mumbai roads
Pedestrians: These species is highly evolved. We walk therefore you are, seems to be their motto. Footpaths or no footpaths, these kings have to walk on the road. Vehicles have brakes, this species doesn’t. Red light, green light, no problem, we walk, jump, squeeze through.
Be wary of: Their limbs and their mouth. Limbs can be used for varied intimidating gestures and also cause damage to the vehicles of lower species. The mouth can be used for noises, usually provoking the lower species into confrontation.
Bikers: These are the leftists, zoom with gay abandon with no regard whatsoever for the others around. High speed starts; cutting lanes etc. is the basic character.
Be wary of: The middle finger and tough glares at other species. Occasional damage can be caused to others vehicles.
Rickshaws and Taxis: While these are the pests of the traffic ecosystem, their sheer numbers places them on higher in the ecosystem. Known for blocking lanes, slow take offs, stopping in the middle of the road and squeezing into every possible gap between anything. Another inherent trait is stopping anywhere in traffic without fore warning.
Be wary of: Causing damage by their noses, which seem to be getting into everywhere!
BEST buses: Were known to be disciplined species but increasingly getting dangerous. All species irrespective of their order are prone to damage from these. Coupled with their size, their scant respect for the lane system can be intimidating for all species.
Be wary of: Don’t get in their way unless you are a pedestrian!
Private cars: The lowest in the traffic ecosystem with stray incidents of notoriety. They are the receiving lot of all. Pedestrians block their way and cause damage if they try to move at any speeds above 2 km/hr which of course is dictated by the rickshaws and taxis, with their dangerous lane cuttings and also by the BEST buses which does not allow them any space to manoeuvre unless they scrape some part of their body somewhere. The private cars themselves show affection to each other with the side mirrors kissing each other at regular intervals.
Be wary of: High speeds when attained late at night can cause the driver to be reckless!
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