[dhruvagarwal]

Driving in the city has become increasingly chaotic and frustrating! In every 10 mins drive-time, I am able to spot atleast 20 traffic violations (wrong side riding, without helmet, triples, high beam, under-age, polluting, parking in no-parking, breaking traffic signals, etc.). Current enforcement is clearly inefficient and is not bothered about this. Cops are mostly busy harassing out-of-state vehicles.

Makes me wonder if there's potential for an initiative that can make roads safer, enforce rules better and be self-sustaining at the same time. I was wondering if we can use tech to do something about this.

For example:

1. User installs a dashcam and syncs it with an app
2. The app processes complete dashcam footage (periodically: daily/ weekly) to identify and generate short clips of traffic offences
3. App shares short clips of offences with BTP (Bangalore Traffic Police), who must then generate challans
4. User and app get a cut/ commission from BTP. This will help with break-even of dashcam, further encouraging people to install dashcams

User details (personal details, complete footage etc.) must be kept confidential by the application.

Any takes on this?

[dust-n-bones]

Originally Posted by dhruvagarwal

1. User installs a dashcam and syncs it with an app
2. The app processes complete dashcam footage (periodically: daily/ weekly) to identify and generate short clips of traffic offences
3. App shares short clips of offences with BTP (Bangalore Traffic Police), who must then generate challans
4. User and app get a cut/ commission from BTP. This will help with break-even of dashcam, further encouraging people to install dashcams

While this is a nice thought, you would realize that, given the spread of CCTVs these days, BTP is not really short on footage of offenders. It also has started using AI to identify violations.

I have said elsewhere on this thread, if BTP cracks down in earnest with aid of such technology, it would become a net revenue earner department for the government.

Why that doesn't happen, I have no clue. Why does BTP waste its precious human resource on running after petty violators. Why are repeat offenders allowed to drive - no clue again.
Even if BTP drags a few such offenders to a day in court, that would be enough of a deterrent for the remaining wannabe's.

No amount of crowd sourcing of violations is going to help, if the root cause is lack of leadership and of holistic enforcement vision.

[ShreyG]

Originally Posted by dust-n-bones

Why that doesn't happen, I have no clue. Why does BTP waste its precious human resource on running after petty violators.

It is kind of obvious isn't it. Scanning through footage to catch violators or using any sort of technology makes the entire transaction transparent and fill in the government coffers. No incentive for the poor fellows and hence, catching out of state vehicles and petty offenders becomes their bread and butter.
I have asked this many times but how often do we see the BTP stop a white Fortuner / Innova / Scorpio with 100% tinted glasses breaking every other rule in the traffic book. But they will immediately take out the keys of a hapless common man riding his Activa to work, standing at the red light because he crossed the stop line by a couple of inches.
The day BTP is given a free hand to work with a little sincerity (the kind we see 3-4 weeks before any election), half the traffic woes of the city will be solved.

[dust-n-bones]

Originally Posted by ShreyG

It is kind of obvious isn't it. Scanning through footage to catch violators or using any sort of technology makes the entire transaction transparent and fill in the government coffers. No incentive for the poor fellows and hence, catching out of state vehicles and petty offenders becomes their bread and butter.

While what you say may actually be true, a rigorous enforcement process (catching violators, collecting challans, and prosecuting serial offenders etc) will provide enough to go round the whole department and then some, all legal tender. The police can instill discipline on the roads, provide a dignified life to their foot soldiers, while staying subservient to their masters.

Why that doesn't happen is a mystery to me.

[dass]

The misplaced priorities of BTP are probably deserving of a separate thread in itself.

On the old airport road, near the HAL museum they installed a new traffic signal, which is controlled manually and I believe by a Marshall and not a cop. End result, what used to be a free flowing junction now has traffic piled up on both sides of the old airport road at anytime of the day. Not really sure who this helped except for the contractor who put up the traffic lights and the person who sanctioned it.

Icing on the cake - As per some of the master plans, this entire stretch is part of a signal free corridor from Minsk square to Varthur junction. Go figure

[binand]

Originally Posted by dass

On the old airport road, near the HAL museum they installed a new traffic signal [...] what used to be a free flowing junction now has traffic piled up on both sides of the old airport road at anytime of the day.

While the effect is what you say, I don't think this was a futile exercise. Previously I used to see an accident at that junction at least once a month; now none since that signal has been made operational. People turning to/from Namjoshi Road (the road leading from that junction to Basavanagar/Kaggadasapura) and having to cut across a busy carriageway were at risk of accidents which has been eliminated now.

[itwasntme]

Kodigehalli to Hebbal service road to be closed nightly for Metro work. HGVs will also be shunted onto the flyover at the Vidyashilp School entry/exit. Expect significant traffic on the main carriageway; going to be fun for late night flight arrivals!

Some changes at Nagawara too but unsure of the implications; maybe regulars can comment:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../109961757.cms

[ShreyG]

BTP Redeem themselves

Yesterday evening I was on my way towards commercial street. I was at the Dickenson Road red light after Trinity circle going towards Brigade road.
Now I was the first car on the left side waiting to turn right (the signal was red for both directions) when I heard an ambulance. Immediately crossed the stop line, turning right towards the junction making enough space for the ambulance to cross through. However, a commercial 3 wheeler to my right wasn't happy about this and immediately moved forward which led to a little side scraping. I quietly got down to check for any damage. There were little marks on the rubber beading above the tire walls but nothing that was visible.
The 3 wheeler driver may have assumed this as some sort of provocation and immediately started abusing in some chaste Kannada. I, with my broken Kannada responded that I moved because to let the ambulance go through for which his response was along the lines of I don't care about any ambulance. Sensing escalation, I folded hands and moved on only to be stopped by the BTP at the junction. Fearing the worst, I got down and saw he was also flagging down the 3 wheeler.
The officer came to me and asked me if I wanted to register a case of damage against the 3 wheeler driver. Apparently he had been observing what had happened from a distance and was furious at the 3 wheeler driver's behaviour.
Obviously, I did not want to have the hassle of police case etc for a little side scraping and politely declined. The officer then did the unthinkable.
He asked the 3 wheeler driver to apologize to me in full view of the road users (and a couple of teens inside his auto's cabin) standing at the lights. He was still a bit aggressive, apologized roughly, thanked the officer, moved on and I also carried forward.
Public naming and shaming is probably the way to go to handle goons and rule breaking idiots on the roads. (Don't think the 3W driver will forget this soon)
No amount of fines seems to deter them. And police officers like this are far and few. Unfortunately, in the midst of all this, I missed capturing the name of the officer but a shoutout to him for handling it like a pro.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by ShreyG

The officer then did the unthinkable.
...

And police officers like this are far and few.

Awesome! THIS is the way all our cops should be and handle the idiots on the road! To be fair, I believe most of them are that way, they need to be helped and unleashed on the rule breakers with full support.

First we need a LOT more of them, the department is understaffed. They need to be paid a LOT better. And finally they need to be given a free hand without worrying about which politician or auto/driver union will descend on them for taking one of their chamchas/thugs to task. A couple of generations should grow up in fear of immediate and heavy punishment if even the smallest road rule is broken. Only then will traffic in Bangalore have a hope in hell of being manageable.

Thanks for sharing this inspiring story and kudos to the cop for doing his duty!

[Mik]

Frankly, I find bangalore traffic cops very approachable compared to other cities I have lived in where the only objective was to avoid the cop. .Generally it's a mixture of sign language, apologetic English and kannada words peppered in which gets my case across with them.
What I do see is that they appreciate that little bit of effort a non kannadiga makes in going from gotthilla to swalpa.

That being said, no dearth of idiots in my part of town, budigere cross. Yeah you in-town Bangaloreans will start hearing about this place a lot in next few years

[srvm]

Originally Posted by Mik

.....
That being said, no dearth of idiots in my part of town, budigere cross. Yeah you in-town Bangaloreans will start hearing about this place a lot in next few years

What am I seeing here?
Most of the traffic wanting to take left at Decathlon (Old Madras Road) onto Budigere road isnt taking the service road before Brigade Exotica. Instead they continue on the main carriageway / highway for longer and try to butt-in at the last moment? Thereby making all the traffic going straight towards Kolar/Chittoor suffer in agony.

Is this what this is?

[Mik]

Originally Posted by srvm

What am I seeing here?
Most of the traffic wanting to take left at Decathlon (Old Madras Road) onto Budigere road isnt taking the service road before Brigade Exotica. Instead they continue on the main carriageway / highway for longer and try to butt-in at the last moment? Thereby making all the traffic going straight towards Kolar/Chittoor suffer in agony.

Is this what this is?

The vantage point is Brigade Exotica. So what is happening nowadays is that traffic is piling up before Brigade Orion Mall due to the flyover construction. Sometimes it spills back as far as the Budigere Cross flyover. These over smart fellows see the pile-up and start diverting to the service road. Coupled with big trucks and unruly car wallahs all wanting to go in all directions, we have these muck ups every now and then.

[TSIVTEC]

Originally Posted by Mik

So what is happening nowadays is that traffic is piling up before Brigade Orion Mall due to the flyover construction.

Adding to this, today's morning pileup was caused by a broken down truck on the service lane section right ahead of Geist.

[airguitar]

Originally Posted by Mik

The vantage point is Brigade Exotica. So what is happening nowadays is that traffic is piling up before Brigade Orion Mall due to the flyover construction.

It's been like that for a few months now and I have started to avoid the stretch like the Plague. I stick to Whitefield - Nagondanahalli - Kaithota road - Tirumalashettyhalli cross - Hoskote ( it still means that there is a bit of traffic at Channasandra, Koralur railway cross and Hoskote town, but saves time overall and some nice village roads, not to mention the toll gate saves in terms of time and money)

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by Mik

That being said, no dearth of idiots in my part of town, budigere cross. Yeah you in-town Bangaloreans will start hearing about this place a lot in next few years

Not very familiar with that part, but I am guessing STRR users (exiting BLR) will join the Kolar highway after this mess?