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Entropy example: Kilometer long jam for no real reason

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Written By silkboard - 22 November, 2008

Traffic Bangalore Congestion Marathahalli Junctions Citizen Reports Enforcement entropy Traffic jams

Marathahalli JamOne Wednesday afternoon, I noticed a kilometer long jam around a tiny intersection on Varthur Road at Marathahalli. The photo doesn't tell you much, but watch the video (below) and guess the reason for the chaos I captured:

One single strategically parked truck, and so much chaos! Very small number of disorderly particles in the system can break the order. Hopefully the video will make some things we discuss here a lot clear to those who don't believe in the power of small measures.

[video:http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=9n0xb1nnvnc]

Enforcement matters a lot more around these tiny intersections where small roads merge into major radial roads. First of all, key to speeding up a radial road is to reduce such small road merges (aka access) - make small access roads merge into major access roads, and have fewer larger access roads merge into radial roads at well managed intersections - this how sort of how river/tributary systems function. Few of them or many, when you have an intersection on a radial road, you got to have a signal, and enforcement of no-parking zone at the corners and "T" spots. Simple stuff.

COMMENTS

This is why fines have to be punitive

mcadambi - 22 November, 2008 - 17:49

I have already campaigned for high fines. But Mr Praveen Sood, our ACP thinks it is not going to work.

In this case, the truck driver will maximum getaway with paying a bribe of Rs. 100 or less - which is peanuts. Sometimes, he would not even pay the bribe.

We have to email this to NDTV / CNN-IBN / TIMES NOW to do a report of such dysmal enforcement of traffic rules.

I miss bangalore

idontspam - 22 November, 2008 - 17:54

I should admire the innocence of the truck driver. He probably doesnt know what he has caused or even if is doing something wrong. Ideally if people only knew by means of markings on the road what is an appropriate place to stop even in an emergency. I should blame all the 3Es here

Yep, the guy doesn't realize

silkboard - 22 November, 2008 - 18:08

Poor chap was having some trouble with this truck. So he stopped for a quick checkup or a trouble shoot. He went about his chore for 6-7 minutes. What was interesting was that for the first few minutes, nobody yelled at this truck driver. Everyone seemed to just "take it in" and move on. Once a few folks took a few seconds out of their "busy schedules" to tell this driver what he had caused, our man fired the engine, moved 10-15 meters ahead and carried on with his engine tune ups.

No point yelling around. Most people just don't realize the mess they cause (are sort of innocent in that sense) Why?

  1. They are not trained that way during the driving license process.
  2. There are no clear markings and signs to tell them where absolutely-not to park.

Punishment, fines etc come next, after above two points.

Whitefiled area is utter Chaos

Rithesh - 22 November, 2008 - 18:14

Cadambi, completely agree with you that the fines are too low. But the other day Mr Sood stated that he nor the state govts have direct powers to raise the fines - it has to be done by the central government. I am sure they have happily forgotten about this problem.

Fines is one thing, but if you notice the Whitefield area, especially one the Whitefield main road (Varthu road, trust me gets a royal treatment compared to this road - because of all the big shots in those villas on that road ;) ), there are absolutely no sign boards, indicating no parking zones. This road is a complete mess.

All that is needed to screw up the traffic on this road is one parked lorry. It is like this Butterfly Effect, one vehicle parked wrongly and a catastrophic effect of 2-3 KM of traffic jam. It is extremely bad on this stretch.

In west, any traffic jam

flanker - 23 November, 2008 - 16:59

In west, any traffic jam creating vehicle gets towed within 15 mins. Either owner of stalled vehicle gets it towed or the authorities will do it.

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