Do not be angry on roads or roads will be angry on you. Those who drive fast may be driving last. The death of two brothers (reportedly riding a motorcycle) from Rishipora Kulgam in a road accident in the first week of the current month, is a grim reminder that such like catastrophes are occurring nonstop. Who is to blame: parents, society, state institutions or risk-full driving?
Although driving hastily stands strictly prohibited in Jammu and Kashmir for the dangers linked with it, thousands of drivers, under aged or adults, can be seen taking to it at will. 90 % underaged drive vehicles — bikes, scooty, auto rickshaws and cars —without license, violate the law and put lives at risk, including their own. Thoughtlessness dominates their driving. Certain quarters assume that the issue is off the priority list of the authorities.
Two years back, a road accident in my area killed three boys when their fellow underage driver was unable to control the scooty he was driving. The two-wheeler is said to have hit a speedy load-carrier. So powerful was the collision that the scooty riders were sent flying in the air and had fallen down head first with blood flooding the spot. Hours later, all three passed away, sending shock waves across. But no lessons have been learnt by others.
Accidents are a common affair now. Many riders are left injured— sometimes seriously. Which means the loss of the hard earned income of their parents — the money which could well be utilized in the right direction, ends up spent for an undesirable work: in treating the injuries.
Notably, deaths due to road accidents in Jammu and Kashmir/ JK remain as a major cause. According to a recently released report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), an alarming total of 4,287 lives were tragically lost due to road accidents from 2018 to 2022 in J&K.
As per media reports, Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 saw a sharp rise in road accidents. 6,298 incidents reported. These accidents killed 893 people, leaving 8,489 others wounded. The police dutifully say that the chief causes of these accidents are excessive speed, overloading and rough driving.
What adds fuel to fire is the fact that eight drivers (of every age) out of ten — especially in rural areas— do not put on helmets while operating the two wheelers. And with no one to stop or council the drivers, especially, the teenagers derive pleasure in driving at an alarming speed. Stunts steal the show, leading to the unbalance of the vehicle. Thus take place tragedies.
“Why don’t you put on a helmet,” I asked a fellow teacher. “I drive thoughtfully and so don’t need it!” came the prompt response. Can you believe it?
Parents, in most cases, are squarely responsible for the underage accidents. A friend recently told this author that in his neighborhood, three underage boys met with an accident when they were traveling in an auto rickshaw. One of them was driving the vehicle on way to a ground for a cricket match. The friend further said the driving minor had received the rickshaw from his home. Had his parents denied the ride, the accident could have been prevented. Luckily, the three children were just injured mildly.
Agreed that teenagers/ under aged are hard to convince against driving — not to speak of just rash driving— but we as adults or parents must discourage underage driving. No room for a non-serious attitude. A firm stand by parents and social disapproval can significantly reduce the chances of driving by minors. Too difficult but not impossible.
What is more disturbing is the glorification of speeding and overtaking, the two major reasons for road accidents. These words of undue praise come from adults and parents, encouraging the youngster drivers to risk everything, including life, while driving.
That promotes the reckless operation of vehicles. Look around; your eyes will site a teenage biker or car driver with the parents or any adult traveling along. Plus, vehicles are overloaded and rash driving is seldom discouraged.
Taking heart from it, teenagers engage in extreme fast driving alone or together. As a bike and car driver from many years, I believe that most accidents happen due to overtaking at wrong places, at wrong time and with overconfidence. Isn’t it bad driving if you race past a vehicle in front of you after coming closer to it? This blinds you to the vehicle zooming towards your direction from the opposite side. You can well overtake calmly and slowly from a safe distance.
Impatience, anger and overconfidence are enemies of safe driving. You need a clear and cool head while operating a vehicle.
Similarly, as parents or adults, we can well do one important thing: keep the vehicle keys out of the sight and knowledge of the teenagers. I am sure; many among us are doing it. So am I. But at times, I forget where I have kept them because my memory is not good. I believe, yours is fine.
Therefore, with the keys not available, teenagers can be kept away from driving. In addition to good and responsible parenting, effective schooling and education are potential tools against the underage driving. That calls for a serious intervention by policy-makers, media and civil society to frame curriculum which creates continued awareness on traffic norms and regulations.
The inclusion of the anti-teenage driving material in the syllabi can be given a thought. Most importantly, the strict implementation of the codal norms in existence against rash driving can prove a strong deterrent. The police of this union territory has been doing an outstanding job for the past few years to curb social crimes; unlawful driving including.
There is no doubt that the authorities must prohibit speeding and awkward overtaking. Only then, one can suppose that rash and overconfident driving can become the thing of the past. Religious leaders also can play a pivotal role in putting an end to the thoughtless driving: The pulpit ideally is in a strong position to dissuade people from speedy driving.
Widening of roads is a must but speeding and overtaking predominates on wide roads. So slow, calm and safe driving, not flying is the key to combat road accidents.
(Author is a RK Columnist and teacher by profession. Feedback at: [email protected])
