BOMBAY, 19 September 2003 — The outpouring of good wishes for the speedy recovery of Jugraj Singh Indian hockey’s young lion shows that the game is back in the hearts of Indian sports lovers. Though cricket may be the more popular sport there is no doubt that the national game is hockey and the performance of the hockey teams both senior and junior as well as the women’s teams in recent times has brought great cheer to the sporting community. Jugraj’s unfortunate accident has dampened that a fair bit as it means that one of Indian hockey’s brightest stars is not going to be fit enough to don the national colors for a long time and may even miss next years’ Olympics in Athens.
This might be as good a time as any to reflect why our highways are death traps and accidents have snuffed out some brilliant careers from all walks of life and not just sports. It is not a question of whether Jugraj was at fault or not, but the fact is road accidents fatalities around the country are quite high in the list of cases of deaths, apart from illnesses. How regularly do we read about marriage parties losing entire families in road accidents? How often we read about school buses taking children for picnics, getting into accidents. The point is all these are avoidable if the traffic rules were obeyed, but the Indian driver is always in a hurry and will cut corners to reach his destination and in the process cause accidents and loss to either his family or that of others. The Highway Code is observed more in the breach than anything else, simply because there is no fear of the law and any subsequent punishment. It is not just on the highways that there is danger to life, but also on the city roads though because of heavy traffic and thus slowing down the speed the accidents are more a threat to limbs than life.
The sad part is that it is the professional driver who is the culprit in the majority of the traffic misdemeanors. Yes there are others too, especially teenagers who have just got their licenses and get carried away, but in the main it is the guy who earns his living plying vehicles who is in the forefront of breaking traffic rules. Just take a look at the taxi drivers and truck drivers on the highways and you will know what I mean. And in Bombay the BEST bus drivers are a law unto themselves. When was the last time you saw a BEST driver being hauled up by a traffic cop for breaking the rules? And what of our generation next which apes everything that the West has like the jeans, beer and pub culture but is averse to following the way most drivers in the West generally follow the traffic rules.
Why one has to be a mind reader on Indian roads for in spite of the latest gadgetry in the cars few drivers care to give the cars behind a signal that they are going to turn right or left and cutting into lanes without signals is almost like birthright of most drivers. Another irritating habit is driving with full beam lights on at night, instead of using the dipper. Its almost as if the drivers are in collusion with opticians to give them more business for damaged eyes. Even Bombay which is one of those cities where drivers used dipper is now using full head lights and on well lit roads too probably due to more outsiders in the city than ever before.
Driving is no longer a pleasure, be it on city roads with the awful conditions they are in and on the highways where there is the fear that another idiot might cause you serious injury.
Have a look at some of the names who have been seriously injured or killed in road accidents and you will see why it is important that something be done very quickly to ensure another family is not left in misery. From the cricketing world the death of ‘Collie Smith’ one of West Indian cricketers most promising allrounders, the accident to Colin Milburn and to our very own ‘Tiger’ Pataudi where they lost one eye. Just imagine what a player Tiger Pataudi would have been with two eyes, if he could bat so brilliantly with just one. On the political front too the loss of Rajesh Pilot one of the most hard working and promising politicians, the death of Bindumadhav Thackeray and in hockey itself the death of the great Surjit Singh are enough reasons for the Road Safety Department to take matters seriously to ensure that accidents are kept to a minimum by a strict application of the traffic laws. Perhaps they should start by having a media campaign with some of the luminaries in India exhorting the people to observe the traffic laws. A print media and electronic media campaign will definitely make a difference, though of course it will not be easy to change the approach and attitude overnight. One tends to ignore the danger of road accidents till it happens to someone close in your family or friends circle, but if the hazards are brought out then it will make for much safer and enjoyable driving in the country.
The automobile industry is one of the biggest spenders on advertising and if they can be persuaded to combine the virtues of their vehicle be it a two or a four wheeler with tips on good safe driving, they will be doing a great social service along with promoting their vehicles. So also the oil companies and tire manufacturers. Slogans like “Own the road or make your own road” only encourage bad driving and may lead to accidents, so the advertising companies also could do a lot of good if they looked more carefully into promoting a safer driving environment than just looking for trashy catchy lines.
You may be tempted to say that the majority of the Indian do not own cars. Yes that is true but there is public transport and that too could do with better driving habits.
Jugraj’s family is lucky that he is still there but some other family may not be so fortunate. So please think about it and observe traffic rules, drive safely and go home to your family.
