Wrong-side driving persists on Chennai roads, putting pedestrians and motorists at risk
Motorists in Chennai are increasingly driving on the wrong side of the road to save time, creating significant safety hazards for pedestrians and other drivers. Despite police enforcement, the practice remains prevalent in busy areas like Velachery and Pondy Bazaar.
Why it matters
Persistent traffic violations undermine urban road safety and highlight the challenges of enforcing traffic discipline in rapidly growing metropolitan areas.
A growing number of motorists in Chennai appear to be treating wrong-side driving as a convenient shortcut, disregarding traffic rules and putting other road users at risk.
From school zones in Velachery to the congested stretches of Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Pondy Bazaar and Anna Salai, two-wheelers routinely take the wrong route to avoid detours or beat traffic, causing bottlenecks and increasing the risk of accidents. The problem has also drawn mounting complaints on social media, with residents tagging the Greater Chennai Traffic Police and flagging violations at several locations. Despite the police booking hundreds of cases daily, the practice persists on busy roads and at junctions, including stretches where traffic police personnel are stationed.
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