Wrong-side driving persists on Chennai roads, putting pedestrians and motorists at risk

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.

In Velachery, wrong-side driving has become commonplace on Velachery Main Road near the Sarathy Nagar junction. With a private school located nearby, hundreds of parents drive on the wrong side with their children riding pillion to avoid travelling a few metres farther to take a U-turn. This practice causes traffic bottlenecks and increases the risk of accidents. Many parents appear undeterred by the presence of a traffic police booth at the signal junction and continue to flout traffic rules.

R. Santosh, a Perungudi resident, said traffic on Rajiv Gandhi Salai had become increasingly difficult due to Metro Rail construction. Delivery personnel were among those frequently violating traffic rules by driving on the wrong side of the congested road, further aggravating traffic congestion, he said.

Pondy Bazaar, one of Chennai’s busiest shopping hubs, faces a persistent problem of two-wheelers entering one-way streets from the wrong direction. The practice is particularly common among delivery personnel working for online food delivery and ride-hailing platforms, who appear to take shortcuts to reach their destinations faster. This inconveniences pedestrians, puts shoppers and commuters at risk, and undermines road safety in the crowded T. Nagar and Pondy Bazaar areas.

“Strict enforcement of one-way traffic rules and better monitoring are essential to prevent accidents and ensure safer streets for everyone,” said S. Krishnamoorthy, a Pondy Bazaar resident.

A serious road safety concern has also emerged on Anna Salai, particularly near Ritchie Street. Two-wheelers frequently enter Anna Salai from the Chintadripet side in the wrong direction to reach Ritchie Street quickly. The practice is particularly dangerous near a series of bus stops where several Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses halt to pick up and drop passengers.

A senior Greater Chennai Traffic Police officer said the department was taking sustained action to curb wrong-side driving. “We booked 700 cases for wrong-side driving today alone. So far, 2,63,577 cases have been booked for violations of Motor Vehicles Rules, including no-entry violations and wrong-side driving. We have identified locations where wrong-side driving is increasingly reported and have drawn up an action plan to curb the menace completely,” the officer said.

(With inputs from Sangeetha Kandavel)