Pune Traffic Jam Sparks Comparison with Germany: “Just a Little Respect for Emergency Vehicles”

Pune Traffic Jam Sparks Comparison with Germany: “Just a Little Respect for Emergency Vehicles”
Traffic jams in Pune are a familiar frustration, and recently, a video by Karan Singh highlighted how a small dose of road courtesy could make a big difference.
Stuck in traffic, Karan shared his experience, comparing road discipline in India with what he saw in Germany. “Even on a two-lane highway, people in Germany stick to the extreme left or right during a jam, leaving the center lane open for emergency vehicles. It doesn’t require new infrastructure, just respect for emergency services,” he said.
He captioned the video: “Think we’re capable of this discipline here?” The post quickly went viral, amassing over 165,000 views and sparking discussion online.
Many users agreed with his point. One commented, “Here everyone has an emergency.” Another said, “Even basic courtesy is missing; people just want to get ahead at any cost.” Others noted that the problem isn’t a lack of rules, but a lack of discipline and civic sense.
While some hope awareness could slowly improve behavior, enforcement in India often falls short. Minor clashes with traffic authorities can escalate, and following rules requires both mindset and habit. In contrast, European drivers generally treat roads as shared spaces, while many here see them as a race.