Breaking the traffic gridlock

Roads, roads everywhere, but not a single inch to move. At peak traffic hours, gridlocks and logjams are becoming a routine scenes. It often raises the commuters’ blood pressure and induces stress. We feel helpless and hamstrung. Missed flights, delay in timely meeting the medical emergencies, late for client meetings and other scheduled appointments, late arrivals to offices, schools, and universities, and much more. That is the grim reality of today’s urban commuting. Every sunrise brings with it a flood of new vehicles—cars, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and commercial carriers—pouring onto roads that have already stretched beyond capacity. Traffic congestion has become the most persistent nightmare of today’s smart cities, eroding productivity, patience, and even leading to mental health issues every day. Every individual is stressed, and every time a person gets stuck, they wish they had a flying car to reach their destination on time.

Traffic congestion and urban commuting problems are increasing daily. The traffic management system is believed to consist of four interrelated factors. Infrastructure, attitude, regulation, and Technology. Expanding infrastructure is a long-term, costly, and complex decision. The driving attitude, technology, and traffic regulations could be a change factor if implemented with innovative ideas, right planning, and some determination.

The city’s traffic flow problem typically resembles a fluid flow theory as taught in the realm of physics and engineering. With an objective of obtaining a laminar fluid flow, the problem involves analysing fluid behaviour, such as calculating pressure drops, flow rates, and forces, and can be complicated by issues like turbulence, unsteady flow, and Multiphysics interactions. Common problems in laminar fluid flow include pipe blockages, corrosion, and the need to predict how fluids will move around or through objects that cause constraints. Analogically, a slight vehicle deceleration, distraction or brake application causes a rippling effect in the vehicular flow, spreading over a distance of several miles and converting a laminar traffic flow into a turbulent flow. Smooth and logical vehicular flow is an important factor in minimising the gridlock time.

Despite stricter traffic regulations and regular city crackdowns and challans, the situation shows little improvement. Expanding infrastructure, though helpful, has its limitations. The problem runs deeper—into the attitudes and behaviours of those behind the wheel, as a man sometimes becomes a monster during a driving commotion and agitation while driving. We totally forget the basic vocabulary of a civilised society: A, B, C, D, and E. The Attitude, Behaviours, Culture, Discipline and Egos. We need to work hard on these to set our roads right.

Driving habits, attitudes, behaviour, and discipline are fundamental to maintaining an orderly and efficient flow of traffic. To appreciate their significance, it is worthwhile to reflect on how different regions of the world approach these values. Several years ago, a video from Japan went viral on YouTube, capturing an extraordinary moment during a powerful earthquake. Amidst the chaos—buildings shaking and people scrambling for safety—a lone driver brought his car to a complete stop at a red light. The streets were otherwise empty, and the circumstances clearly warranted urgency, yet the young man chose to obey the traffic signal. That simple, instinctive act spoke volumes about a nation’s collective respect for discipline, civic responsibility, and the rule of law.

The rage on the roads

Road rage is no longer an occasional outburst; it’s a daily occurrence. Impatience, reckless overtaking, and disregard for basic traffic rules have become disturbingly common. Many drivers seem to operate within their own “egos and comfort zones,” sometimes in the wrong lanes, overtaking incorrectly, and sometimes driving too fast or too slow, unconcerned about the chaos they contribute to. The result? Frayed tempers, frequent accidents, and a culture of aggression that poisons the very act of commuting. After every collision or even a small error, tolerance is zero. There is often a confrontation, which sometimes escalates into a physical altercation. The winner is the one who has muscles, irrespective of who made a mistake. This is a point when words become weapons. A few months ago, an eyewitness recounted a deeply disturbing incident at Jehangir Chowk in Srinagar. An elderly man, in his sixties, was driving a car with his wife sitting along when a crazy youth on a bike rammed into his car from behind. The young man was driving rashly. Both parties stepped out to assess the situation, but without any provocation, the young man began hurling abuses at the elderly gentleman in front of his wife. The confrontation quickly escalated—he assaulted the old man, pushed him to the ground, and then sped away without a trace of remorse. Such situations are becoming increasingly common, and poor attitude and behaviour play a role, where a man can easily become a monster. Such incidents are very common and are narrated every day. Yet, we don’t learn lessons when we drive. It becomes a different ball game.

My brother works in Qatar and shared a very interesting incident with me, comparing the people’s attitude at the two places. Once, during a shopping trip, he parked his car in a parking slot and went shopping. After an hour, as he approached back, he saw a large dent in the rear. He was cross and angry, looking here and there with no clue who did it. As he approached to open the door, he found a slip attached to the front screen. Someone had written, “I accidentally struck your car. I apologise for my mistake as I am in a hurry. This is my phone number. Please send me the cost of the damage and your account number. I will transfer the money”. My brother was so impressed by that gesture that he absolved him of the mistake and sent a WhatsApp message appreciating his honesty and integrity. The two unknown persons became good friends after that.

Innovating the way forward

To truly tackle traffic problems, authorities must think beyond conventional solutions. The traffic police department, urban planners, and civic bodies must explore innovative approaches to ease congestion and promote smoother movement. In 2022-23, a traffic hackathon was conducted by the traffic police, which has already done a commendable job in maintaining discipline, in association with a few academic universities of J&K. A few of the problem areas where innovative ideas were sought included:

1. Travel time and traffic flow optimisation

2. Smart driver training problem for attitudinal change

3. Parking management following a system approach for the city

4. Innovation for improving occupational safety and health for traffic personnel

Many promising ideas were obtained from college and university students. However, to turn these ideas into reality, incubation support and active involvement from various stakeholders are essential. All major stakeholders must come together to plan, develop, and implement various ideas in a structured and practical manner. Most of us are confronted with numerous questions and challenges that require creative and collaborative efforts to obtain viable solutions. Questions that are still unanswered and need innovative ideas, such as:

1. Where should suitable road diversions and detours be created within the city for smooth traffic flow?

2. How and on which routes should the fleet of large public and electric red buses operate to avoid congestion, especially on narrow roads/downtown?

3. Where should the designated bus stops be located along different routes, and how can their effective operations be monitored to avoid bottlenecks and jams?

4. On which roads, lanes or by-lanes should the slow-moving, battery-operated rickshaws, three-wheelers and EVs be allowed to run to prevent traffic bottlenecks?

5. How can vehicle monitoring and control systems be effectively implemented, especially at junctions, traffic lights, and flyovers?

6. Should we consider only one-way, circular traffic movements on certain roads during specific times of the day to ease vehicle congestion?

7. Would introducing an even-odd number plate rule on alternative days help reduce traffic congestion?

8. Should different markets remain closed on different weekdays to spread out vehicle movement more evenly?

9. How should one monitor and control the wrong overtaking, driving bullies, erratic, and fast driving habits of individuals?

10. How should effective parking slots and methodologies be designed and implemented?

Many such questions exist where innovative solutions can work well. One promising idea for controlling vehicular congestion during peak hours is the introduction of one-way circular flow—a system that channels vehicles in a coordinated movement through major city intersections to prevent bottlenecks. Another is the creation of more multi-level parking slots at strategic points, such as one already established at Lal Chowk and Forest Lane, freeing up precious road space currently occupied by haphazardly parked vehicles.

The backbone of any successful urban mobility plan lies in a robust public transport system. Reliable, affordable, and well-connected buses, metros, and local trains can significantly reduce reliance on private vehicles. Expanding routes, ensuring punctuality, and maintaining cleanliness could make public transport the first choice rather than the last resort.

Finally, awareness and attitude change are the key. No matter how advanced the infrastructure or how efficient the traffic management system is, true change begins with the right knowledge and then exhibiting a responsible behaviour. The involvement of the community, especially the youth, can play a pivotal role. Schools and colleges could establish Senior Students Traffic Scout Corps (TSC) groups (similar to the NCC)—Students or volunteers trained to assist traffic police during peak hours or special events. Such participation not only supports an overburdened traffic department but also nurtures civic sense among citizens and creates a positive mindset and impressions on drivers. Regular campaigns in schools, colleges, offices, colonies and residential societies can play a crucial role in shaping a culture of road discipline and mutual respect. Religious scholars must educate the masses on the importance of good driving habits, recognising it as an individual’s responsibility towards society and as one of the ways to please both men and God. When young people learn about traffic rules, pedestrian safety, and the consequences of reckless driving at an early age, they develop into more responsible drivers and citizens. Awareness sessions at workplaces can remind employees—many of whom drive daily—about the importance of patience, empathy, and adherence to road regulations. Community-level initiatives, such as traffic awareness weeks or volunteer-driven safety drives, can help transform road behaviour at the grassroots level. After all, traffic management is not just about signals, signboards, or flyovers; it is about people. A courteous driver, who gives way when required and respects both pedestrians and fellow motorists, contributes as much to smooth traffic flow as any well-designed intersection or traffic light system. Ultimately, it is the mindset of the driver, not merely the design of the road, and the challans issued by cops, that determine how safely and efficiently a city operates.

The role of digital technology in modern traffic management

The rapid pace of urbanisation and the corresponding increase in vehicular density have made traditional methods of traffic regulation insufficient for modern cities. Consequently, the integration of digital technology into traffic management systems has emerged as a transformative approach to addressing congestion, improving road safety, and enhancing overall mobility efficiency. Data is the backbone. Do we have sufficient and reliable data to create models and regulatory networks?

Modern Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) form the cornerstone of this digital transition. These systems employ advanced technologies, such as sensors, surveillance cameras, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, to continuously monitor vehicular flow and optimise traffic signal timings in real-time. By adjusting signal cycles based on current traffic density, ITMS minimises idle time at intersections, reduces fuel consumption, and curtails vehicular emissions—contributing not only to smoother mobility but also to environmental sustainability. Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and real-time navigation applications have further revolutionised traffic management by empowering commuters with live updates on congestion levels, road closures, and alternative routes. This user-driven redistribution of traffic flow helps to prevent bottlenecks and enhances overall road network performance. Digital enforcement mechanisms such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, speed detection devices, and red-light violation cameras have also strengthened the implementation of traffic laws. These technologies facilitate the automatic identification of offenders and the issuance of e-challans, ensuring transparency, accountability, and a significant reduction in the dependency on manual enforcement.

Moreover, data analytics and machine learning play a crucial role in predictive traffic management. By analysing large datasets collected from road sensors, GPS devices, and mobile networks, city authorities can forecast congestion trends, identify high-risk zones, and implement evidence-based interventions. This data-driven approach marks a paradigm shift from reactive to proactive traffic management.

Looking ahead, emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication, and autonomous driving systems are expected to redefine urban mobility by enabling seamless coordination between vehicles and infrastructure. These advancements hold the potential to significantly reduce accidents, enhance traffic predictability, and improve overall road efficiency.

The traffic gridlock is not just a matter of infrastructure—it’s a reflection of urban lifestyles, planning priorities, and social behaviour. To move forward, cities need not just more roads, but smarter use of existing ones, a more responsible driving culture, and collective participation in reinventing the way we travel. The solution is not far; it’s waiting at the next signal—if only we choose to stop, think, and change.

Saad Parvez, Greenovator Incubation Foundation, NIT Srinagar, a section-8 incubation company.