Hyderabad: Egoistic care little for Free Left

Hyderabad: The free left turn facility provided by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad traffic police at various junctions are useful only during non-peak traffic hours. From 9 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm, there is neither left nor right free turns as motorists block the carriageway waiting for the signal to turn green.

 

There are as many as 160 “free left turns” provided by the traffic police on main roads. But it is seldom followed, defeating the very purpose for which they have been provided. “At traffic signal junctions, motorists waiting for the signal to go green to go either straight or turn right blocking even the carriageway meant for a free left turn. This results in arguments as people wanting to go left have to wait and if they honk more than twice, they end up in fights. I was almost roughed up for honking thrice and looking directly in the eyes of other motorists blocking the free left,” said A. Babu Rao, a hotelier from Secunderabad.

 

Though barricades have been put up to allow free left turns, motorist occupy the carriageway beyond the barricades blocking the free left. Lack of signboards, enforcement and traffic sense also add to the problem. “Youngsters these days use headphones and are busy listening to music. Even honking is of no use with them. Quite often motorists have abused me asking me to wait because everyone else is in a hurry too. Traffic police should strictly enforce free left turns or remove them,” said M.R. Gupta, owner of a restaurant in Kukatpally.

 

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad Traffic, A.V. Ranganath agreed that despite being penalised with a Rs 200 fine on several occasions for obstructing and occupying free left turns, motorists continue to block them.

 

“The intention of providing free left turn is good so that people wanting to go left need not wait for the signal to go green. Everyone needs to behave responsibly. Enforcement and penalties alone will not work,” he said.