The danger in traffic is not speed

Traffic debates in Turkey are locked into two topics: speed and radar. But most of the time, the real issue is overlooked: lane discipline.

The scene we see most often on the highway is this: The limit is 120 or 140. A vehicle is moving at a constant speed in the left lane. A buildup starts behind it. Even though the right lane is empty, the driver maintains their position, saying, "this is the limit anyway." The person coming from behind either brakes suddenly or tries to pass on the right. This is exactly where the risk begins.

Lane violation is not just "traffic rudeness." It is a behavior that mathematically disrupts traffic flow. Because a significant portion of accidents arises not from high speed, but from speed differences. A vehicle that unnecessarily remains in the left lane increases the speed difference and creates a chain reaction. One vehicle's mistake can create congestion kilometers behind. Especially on the TEM highway and the Northern Marmara Highway, this situation is a very serious problem, and just as we get angry at "line cutters" in a place like Istanbul where traffic is at its peak, this is the same kind of violation of rights. 

The radar system is the other side of this equation. The purpose of radar is clear: to reduce excessive speed. However, the way it is implemented determines behavior. Especially on long roads, the perception of hidden radar vehicles shifts the driver's attention from the road to the speedometer. The "don't get caught" psychology produces waves of sudden braking. When one person notices the radar and slows down sharply, a domino effect occurs behind them.

The contradiction here is this: Radar monitors absolute speed but often does not sufficiently monitor lane violations. However, the system has two legs. Lane discipline must be monitored as much as speed control. Otherwise, "speeders" form on one side and "blockers" on the other, and the speed difference grows. This is also a very serious problem on long roads; let's talk about the Izmir Highway, paying 2500 TL for the road and fearing the radar is a separate parenthesis. When you are going at high speed, the vehicle in front of you not moving over causes you to brake suddenly, which wears out your brake pads, and then the fuel you will spend to get back to the same pace is a loss to your pocket; it is necessary to look at it from this perspective as well.

In the Autobahn system in Germany, which is frequently cited as an example, the left lane is truly for overtaking. The limit debate is a separate issue, but lane occupation is met with serious sanctions. Therefore, even if the speed is high, the flow is not chaotic. You can travel comfortably at 250; a moron won't jump in front of you without signaling like they do here.

In Turkey, the problem is often disorder rather than speed. Seeing the left lane as a "right," being fixated due to fear of radar, and driving without considering the flow disrupts the balance of the system.

Traffic is not a struggle for individual rights, but a matter of collective harmony.

Radar alone does not provide safety.

Without lane discipline, the speed debate remains incomplete.

Happy driving, as much as possible under these conditions.