Click to play videoTehran: Tehran, the capital city of Iran, like many other big cities of the world is not without the everyday traffic problem woes. Thousands of vehicles vying with each other in the same road to reach their respective destinations is commonplace here.
A male driver feels that the traffic problems are really bad like a never ending maze of moving vehicles vying for position.
Another driver says, “I don't think it can get worst than this.”
What adds to the chaos is that the traffic laws are apparently optional and drivers do not heed the traffice signs.
Amidst this vehicular congestion emerges a Hancock of sorts whose aim is to streamline the congestion at least at one of the city’s busiest intersections.
Meet, Ali Agha, a 57 year old man, who is a volunteer civilian traffic cop.
In Tehran, not everyone obeys traffic laws, but there is one man drivers do obey.
Ali says, “I was just sitting down and thinking to myself. I don't have any way to make money. I just walked down here and said let's see what happens.”
That was five years ago, today this out of work hospital employee is perhaps Tehran's most famous civilian traffic cop. He does not have a uniform. He is equipped with just a whistle and few orders.
While Ali helps motorist to go about their separate ways as smoothly as possible, the motorists help Ali Agha in return too.
He says all donations help pay for his bad back.
Without a traffic warden, crossing the street can be treacherous. Thanks to Ali Agha, at this Tehran intersection, crossing the street is not a matter of life and death.
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