Opinion
Volume 1 Issue 2
KM Yacob*
October 15, 2022
Abstract
An anomaly of the current right-hand driver's position
1. It is difficult for the driver sitting on the right side of the vehicle to accurately know the position of the vehicle passing on his left side and the pedestrian passenger.
It is common for pedestrians to be struck by vehicles because the left front of the vehicle, including the driver's seat, cannot be seen clearly enough.
2. Presently the driver's seat is on the right side and the bus door is on the left side. The driver sitting on the right side has to turn his head to the left side to look at the mirror sitting on the left side to see the people getting on and off on the left side.
When the head is turned to the left, it is impossible to see the vehicles coming from the right behind and the opposite direction in front. Similarly, when the head is turned from the left side to the right side, it is not possible to see what is happening on the left side of the vehicle.
Buses do not have doors in most places in India. Do not close the doors. Due to this, a large number of passengers are seriously injured and die every year due to falling from the vehicle, people getting out of the vehicle after the vehicle starts moving, and getting into the vehicle.
3. Take time to turn the head to the left and back to the right to look at the mirror on the left.
This makes it impossible to look in the left side mirror and pay attention to the oncoming vehicle in front at the same time. This causes danger.
4. When overtaking another vehicle on the right side, the overtaking driver's seat is on the right side and cannot see the sides of the vehicle on the left.
5. When a driver driving a vehicle sitting on the right side on the roads that allows travel in both directions tries to pass another vehicle on the right side, when a vehicle suddenly comes from the opposite direction, the driver's action is based on reflex action, without the ability to pay attention to the vehicle on the left side, the driver keeps the vehicle to the left side to save his life
6. When overtaking another vehicle on the right side of one-way roads, even if the vehicle hits the vehicle in front from the rear or side, the life of the driver sitting on the right side is safe. This makes many drivers arrogant.
This is what happened in the accident that resulted in the immediate death of 9 people in Vadakancherry.
The accident took place in Vadakancherry on one way. It can be seen that the vehicle that caused the accident hit from the rear and right side of the vehicle in front.
7. It is comparatively difficult to get out from the right side driver's seat to the left side when the vehicle is stopped, so the driver opens the right side door and gets out to the right side. When the door is opened in this way, there are many incidents of death due to being hit by the following two-wheeler.
The main reason for the sudden death of 9 people in Vadakancherry. Driving on the left side is the driver's seat on the right side.
8. Pedestrians should be given more priority on the road.
In India, vehicles stop and park on the left. Two-wheeler drivers put their left foot on the ground and stop the vehicle by tilting it to the left side. This also causes more inconvenience and danger to the pedestrians walking on the right side.
If the two-wheelers passing by on the left side lean to the right side to avoid causing inconvenience to the pedestrians, the danger to the two-wheeler will increase. If one tilts to the right side and stops the vehicle, the balance will go. The other will go through the leg of the person driving the two-wheeler stopped in front and the wheel of the vehicle of the motorist coming from behind will go up.
What is the solution?
1. If the driver's seat is on the left side, if you look in the mirror on the immediate left side, you can see people getting on, off, and falling, as well as oncoming vehicles and pedestrians at the same time. If any passenger falls from the vehicle, the vehicle can be stopped immediately.
2. There is no need to turn the head to the left side so that time can be obtained. The danger due to it can also be avoided.
3. When passing another vehicle on the right side, the driver's seat is on the left side so that the sides of the vehicle on the left side can be clearly seen.
4. When a driver driving a vehicle sitting on the left side on the roads allowing travel in both directions tries to overtake another vehicle on the right side, when a vehicle suddenly comes from the opposite direction, the driver's action is according to the reflex action, so the vehicle on the left side is likely to be in danger, so the vehicle is kept to the left side only with great care.
When overtaking another vehicle on the right side, if the driver's seat is on the left side, the sides of the vehicle on the immediate left can be clearly seen.
5. The life of the driver sitting on the left side of the vehicle is not safe if the vehicle hits the vehicle in front from the rear or side while overtaking another vehicle on the right side of the one way roads. Be very careful and force the other vehicle to pass as your life may be in danger.
6. A driver driving a vehicle sitting on the left side will have to maintain a greater distance from the vehicle in front to see the position of the vehicle coming from the opposite side to overtake the vehicle in front. This reduces the risk of hitting the rear of the vehicle in front.
A driver sitting on the left side of the vehicle is more likely to have an accident while the vehicle moves to the left side to avoid an accident. The driver will realize that his life is in danger if he hits the one immediately to his left. This will prompt the driver to drive cautiously.
The accident which caused the death of 9 people in Vadakancheri took place on a one-way road. It can be seen that the vehicle that caused the accident hit from the rear and right side of the vehicle in front. . Had the driver's seat been on the left side, such an accident would never have happened. The driver himself tried to save the life of the driver. The driver was not seriously injured.
7. If the driver gets out of the left side driver's seat by opening the door, such accidents will be avoided as the two-wheeler coming behind will not be affected.
8. Driver's position in vehicles should be on the left side of the vehicle if pedestrians are also walking on the right side.
In right-hand driving, the advantage is that the driver sits on the right side
1. Pedestrians can be made to walk on the left side as pedestrians have a natural tendency to walk on the left side in right-hand driving. It is also possible to back off to the left side as per the reflex action when any vehicle is approaching.
It is said that pedestrians should walk on the right side of the road in order to see the vehicles coming from the opposite side.
2. If you want to overtake the vehicle while driving on the right side, you should keep more distance from the vehicle in front.
As the driver has an innate tendency to veer to the left side while driving on the right side
On one-way roads, when the driver tries to pass the vehicle in front of him on the left side, the driver's action is based on the reflex action, so the risk of accident is high for the driver.
This defect cannot be avoided as passengers should be prioritized over the driver. A driver who has experienced the risk of an accident many times will be more cautious.
3. If the driver gets down from the right side driver's seat by opening the door, such accidents will be avoided as it will not affect the two-wheeler coming behind.
4. When stopping a two-wheeler while driving on the right side, the vehicle does not lean towards the footpath as the left foot sticks. This will make it more convenient for pedestrians to walk.
If the driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle then it should be right side driving and the door of the vehicle should be on the right side.
Why walk on the left side?
Indians generally have a tendency to walk on the left side. A soldier starts his march on the left foot. When one stands to attack another, stand with the left leg crossed. The left side is always defensive and retreating.
While walking along the footpath, you can see that most of the people walk on the left side to pass the person coming from the opposite side.
A person or a group of people walking in the middle of the road on a road with few vehicles has been observed to move to the left side of the road when they hear the bell of a bicycle behind them.
Those standing beyond the halfway mark have also been seen shifting to the left side of the road.
A cyclist should hit the ground first with the left foot.
It is wrong to suggest walking on the right side when there is a natural tendency to walk on the left side. Therefore, it is essential that pedestrians walk on the left side, vehicles drive on the right side, and the driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle.
The need for uniform traffic rules all over the world
Today, many countries have different traffic laws and practices. In some countries you drive on the right side while in some countries you drive on the left side. Similarly there are vehicles with driver's seat on left side and right side.
Because of this, many people do not like to drive for fear of getting into trouble when going to countries that are against the ways they are used to. Many people are not used to driving against a traffic pattern in another country.
Many people travel and work in different countries with different traffic laws on the same day. Different road traffic rules cause various doubts in the mind.
Many existing traffic laws are against the reflex action that comes from our unconscious mind.
Most drivers cannot concentrate on driving full time. Many people think about many other things while driving. Most of the time driving is by reflex action.
When danger occurs, the mind often simultaneously reacts in favor of reflex action but against traffic law. This causes various types of accidents.
If the traffic rules are the same around the world based on reflex action, accidents will be reduced for those who cannot concentrate on driving full time.
It is very important to enforce the same traffic rules all over the world.
Keywords: pedestrians; right hand driving; safety; drivers seat; accident