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In public interest Malcolm Wolfe with Governor N.D. Tiwari

In the bookshops of Hyderabad is a small green book called Streetwise, written by Malcolm Wolfe. All the elementary rules about keeping your body and soul together while driving, walking or crossing the streets. The reason for the appearance of the book is obvious: hundreds of people are dying on the roads every year. Malcolm, who works with the Scotland Yard of London, was born and brought up here and still has relatives here. Obviously, he wants people to drive safely and live another day. Malcolm answered a bunch of emailed queries:

For many years I was in the ‘blame game’ of criticising the authorities and road users about the sad state of affairs. I have been constantly thinking of how to help the situation and finally came up with the book Streetwise. The book is an appeal to the public to get involved and start the change. Whenever we want to change something, we must start with ourselves. The authorities cannot function without the cooperation of the public. I have written this book as I feel strongly that lives are being lost daily by negligent driving. Over 65 per cent of accidents are caused by bad driving. The loss of lives is causing misery in families and is a great loss to the nation. Members of my family and close friends have been involved in accidents and there seems to be no hope unless we make a paradigm shift.

With caution!.. No, just kidding. It is extremely dangerous and intimidating to cross the road (not only in Hyderabad). I know of people who drive, just to get across the street. That is sad. Presently the safest way is in numbers, in a well lit area and at a safe location where you can see the approaching traffic. Make eye contact with the drivers before you take a step. I hope to change this in the future as I am working on proper crossing designs where the drivers will have no choice but to respect the pedestrian or face a penalty. The pedestrian is the most important part of traffic that has been ignored for too long. They need to claim back the streets and pavements that have been encroached. Pedestrians must have rights, but there are also duties that go with it.

At the moment sheer madness, no method. There is a total lack of concern for the other person. That same person off the street is the helpful hospitable Indian known world over. How come? I am putting forward a method to help stop the madness.

Road discipline, courtesy, and road design. You only asked for three, but there are many more things that can change. I know it’s possible when people work together.

Education, enforcement, accountability, personal responsibility are a few things to start with. It is many years of neglect that make it difficult to recover from. However, there is hope as Indians have the capability to recover from the impossible.

SERISH NANISETITI

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