By Correspondent
With 1.5 million vehicles passing through Harare daily, traffic congestion has become a nightmare in the capital city.
Snaking kilometres of hooting and angry drivers are a recurrent and frustrating scene.
With both Government and City Council lost for ways to deal with this challenge here are ways one can utilise to survive the nightmare.
Avoid Peak Timings
Of course this is old and obvious advice but still nothing beats a hasty and early exit either from home in the morning or from work in the evening.
It is the best you can do when you are living in a congested city.
With the peak office hours beginning to show face, the traffic starts slowing down gradually.
So try getting out a little earlier.
Map out alternate routes
Make sure you have an alternate route to your destination.
If you cannot help running late during the peak hours, then the alternate routes are your only hope.
Alternative routes tend to be less congested, but there are chances that they may be a little longer.
But who cares when we all have Aqua Hybrids, Passo’s and Honda Fits, literally only licking fuel.
Keep Up With The Traffic
As much as you want to avoid the congestion, it is equally important that you do not add to the congestion.
Be alert at lights and avoid gawking at your cellphone.
During peak traffic hours a slight delay by one driver can quickly translate and build up into a snarling trail of delayed vehicles.
Use a Two Wheeler
This may not effectively apply to these still-developing regions of the world, but if you can, use a two-wheeler.
However, the use of bicycles and motorbikes isn’t favourably appreciated back here such that it will take long for usage to increase.
Still it’s a cheat code against traffic congestion.
However, with most cycle tracks have literally disappeared it’s most likely that a bicycle rider will have to dance around main traffic.
Regular cycling also has its health benefits; it can eat away that beer belly.
Radio
When you are choosing your route to work, do not act on your intuition rather listen to the radio that airs out traffic status and conditions.
Some local stations have periodically aired programs with traffic updates in the morning.
Though the coverage is minimal, in some instances it still effective for one to avoid Baghdads of traffic.
In this manner, you can avoid any probable gridlock easily.
GPS System
It’s another novel idea with scrambled positive results but what the heck if you can gain two more minutes.
The Google Maps application at times tells one which route has faster ttaffic.
However, the effectiveness may be limited in an environment where the alternative route are actually non-existent.
In this instance technology grids to a halt against our medieval one route pathways into the CBD.
However, in some utopia, using GPS allows one to quickly change routes when your it alerts you of congestion and thus avoid a delay.
Use Public Transport
Ultimately the kombi is the fastest mode of transport when there is traffic congestion.
It’s an unhealthy truth because we all know why it is fast; it follows no rules.
Thus when push comes to shove and you have to get to work or interview on time, the commuter omnibus may the fastest way to beat traffic congestion.
Something that you must keep in mind
Do not be the cause of congestion. Keep your vehicle in serviceable condition.
Do not slow down your vehicle to gawk upon some activity taking place on the road. You are slowing everyone down.
Do not merge lanes suddenly as you tend to slow the whole traffic flow.
Be alert at lights.