2-wheelers:

The two-wheeler population on roads is mushrooming by the. Most of the 2-wheelers are used by youngsters who drive with fast, show no fear and engage in dangerous acrobatics with their scooters and bikes on. They are subject to peer pressure, are victims of fad, and thrill. They refrain from using helmets. Most youngsters have no respect for traffic rules and regulations. They are immature and ignorant; if not defiant and take pride and pleasure in disobeying rules.

Violating traffic regulation and getting away from the clutches of gives them a sense of pride and aura. Sometimes three or more people travel in a single 2-wheeler unmindful of potential risks in the event of an accident. Some of them do not refrain from using the 2-wheelers even when they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, especially after parties at nights.

Many 2-wheelers riders do observe traffic regulations and tend to jump signals and drive in a rash manner. Many of 2-wheelers drivers start using the vehicles before getting fully familiar with driving. Because of the considerable increase in the number of 2-wheelers there are also parked in haphazard manner in many places, in the city roads as well as residential streets that obstruct the traffic flow.

Different two wheelers of different engine capacities, designs and power are driven by men women, both young old, trained and untrained, with helmets and without helmets in haphazard fashion in city roads mingling with heavier traffic and weaving their through. This constitutes a dangerous mix on the road and often leads to accidents. And more so because the two wheeler driver whiz past the cars, buses and trucks suddenly on the left and right. It is astonishing but true. They do not care about danger to their lives and about risk for others too. And other motorists cannot dare them on road for various reasons for fear of aggressive reactions and unruly behavior.

And the irony of the whole traffic scenario is that the four wheeler vehicle drivers are held responsible for any mishaps with a two wheeler, as public sympathy is always with users of smaller vehicles, younger people and drivers from poorer sections of society; though truck drivers are treated as unruly and irresponsible. This indirectly favors the condition of two wheeler riders getting away scot-free with their risky outings of roads; and that in turns reinforces the habit of rash driving too.

And many persons drive borrowed 2-wheelers especially in developing countries and among student communities. This also influences negative driving styles, as non-owners of vehicles tend to be more careless, ignorant, inexperienced and less committed.

3-wheelers/Auto-rickshaws/Share-autos/ Tuk-Tuk:

In all Asian countries especially India, auto rickshaws are used for public transportation extensively. They crowd the city traffic and millions of them ply on the road each day transporting millions of unwary passengers from and to railway stations, bus stations, hospitals, schools, malls, markets and so on. Their number is also increasing menacingly each day. The public opinion about this transport is very bad.

The auto drivers normally tend to drive rashly, fast, pick-up with more people than required and stop wherever and whenever they like. They also tend to stop or park vehicles in middle of the road. In addition, they turn wherever they like without proper indication. As they are many in number, they have groups and association to support their interest. They often get away with accidents committed except in case of serious mishaps where vehicles are damaged and drivers are injured.

Most of 3-wheelers and public carriers are reportedly owned by people having links politicians and police, which possibly cause impediments in enforcement of law and penalization difficult. Regulating authorities may have to work out suitable methodologies to tackle these issues.

Mushrooming of these 2 & 3 wheelers on roads is a major threat to the traffic congestion. In recent times, the concept of share autos has come into existence in several cities and towns of many developing countries where public transports are inadequate and are unable to fulfill the demands of public transportation. Though such transports bring relief in terms of mobility, waiting time and availability, they are often unsafe, accident prone, uncomfortable and overcrowded. Though they may be a 3- wheeler or 4- wheeler vehicle, their design features appear crude and unsafe. And in spite of their design short comings they are driven at unsafe speeds and with overloads.

All these conditions pose a threat to safety of passengers.