Park+ an app for car owners that hosts over 1.5 crore cars on its platform, conducted a Bengaluru-centric survey to understand anxiety triggers for car owners driving in the city.
The survey, answered by 22,000 local drivers, revealed that 57% of car owners in Bengaluru have experienced some sort of road rage in the last six months. 63% struggle to find a legal and safe parking spot for their cars, and 22% expressed anxiety over the deactivation of their FASTag (considering the current turmoil).
Road rage emerged as the foremost trigger for anxiety amongst Bengaluru car owners. The main causes of road rage are frequent traffic jams, congested roads, inadequate infrastructure, two-wheelers swerving between cars and buses, disregard for traffic laws (i.e., speeding, illegal parking, wrong-side driving), and aggressive driving behaviors such as honking, tailgating, and cutting off other vehicles.
These factors contribute to the overall stress and anxiety experienced by car owners while navigating Bengaluru’s roads, which recently surpassed Delhi to claim the title of the top Indian city with the highest number of private cars.
Car parking continues to be a major concern for car owners in Bengaluru, with limited parking spaces leading to frustration and anxiety. Additionally, the lack of proper enforcement of parking rules exacerbates the problem, causing further stress for drivers in the city.
Furthermore, the lack of designated legal parking areas in busy commercial areas adds to the chaos and congestion on the roads. This combination of factors contributes to the daily traffic gridlock that plagues Bengaluru, making commuting a nightmare for car owners.
The current flux seen in the FASTag ecosystem, renewed KYC deadline and FASTag deactivations, has led to some confusion amongst car owners. This added complication only adds to the frustration and stress of car owners, making commuting even more challenging for car owners who cross tolls on a regular basis.
Commenting on the findings, Amit Lakhotia, founder and CEO, Park+, said, “This Bengaluru-centric survey is a step in the same direction to understand the pain points/gaps for car owners and attempt to bridge these gaps for them. As part of our endeavor to solve the top three pain points for car owners in Bengaluru, we launched Offense Reporter services on our app to counter traffic violations and road rage.”
Additionally, Park+ host over 2.5 lakh legal and safe parking spots on its app, wherein users can discover, pre-book, and pay for a legal parking spot on the Park+ app. Furthermore, it is working with relevant FASTag issuing partners to educate users about FASTag buying/renewal/recharge, etc.
“We will continue to invest our energies in enhancing the car ownership experience for car owners, throughout the life cycle of their car and look forward to partnering with other external stakeholders to support us in this endeavor,” Lakhotia added.
Hitesh Gupta, co-founder and CTO, Park+, added that the company’s goal is to simplify the car ownership experience and provide app-first services like pre-booking a parking spot, discover a car dealer near you, FASTag related services, car valet and much more. Its in-app Offense Reporter offering allows users to report a traffic offense on the Park+ app.
“With over 5000 traffic offenses reported on our app, we aim to revolutionize road safety through user vigilance. The forum ensures a seamless experience to share and engage in meaningful discussions about the correct way of driving on the road. Through such initiatives, we aim to promote road safety and accountability among drivers, ultimately creating a more harmonious driving environment for all,” Gupta added.
Commenting on the findings, Akhilesh Srivastava, Road Safety Ambassador-IRF, IT Advisor ITDA, and President ITS INDA FORUM, said that the data reveals a pressing need for increased awareness and education on road safety practices to reduce incidents of road rage and enhance overall traffic flow. “Implementing targeted interventions based on these insights will be crucial in fostering a safer and more efficient driving culture,” he stated.
