Old habits die hard-

For quite some time now, safety on roads has been dominating our thoughts, talks and gossips all around. Whether publicly or privately, the need for safety on the road has become the focal point of our discussions at all forums showing that desperation has grown to stop accidents on our roads and highways. Why not? Statistics of fatalities due to accidents on the roads and highways in the country over the last few years clearly demand that something has to be done to check this menace.

According to reports, over four thousand people were killed on the roads and highways of the country last year. The graphical pointer of fatalities and casualties has maintained an upward trend during the last few years with all remedial actions failing to check the scroll. Reckless driving, faulty vehicles and inappropriate road conditions were bracketed as the main reasons. While there lie no doubt about the reasons, the responsibility also remains with the users as well as the concerned authorities to manage the vehicles, their flow and road conditions.

Impatience, ignorance, over confidence and disrespect for others are in fact the key reasons for accidents. Buses run into mad race to overtake their front runners; most of the bus and truck drivers do not have the skills and knowledge of good driving; they develop over confidence while on the steering; and finally, they have no respect for the passengers or others in their pathways.

On the other side of the coin, people, more so the pedestrians and passengers must also share much of the blame. Despite clearly marked signage and facilities, they cross the road as they wish; even they attempt to cross the barricades on the road dividers; they overload and hang on the doors. They set aside the risk factors and show their impatience, ignorance, over confidence and disrespect for the regulations.

On the part of the regulators, they also need to share lot of the blame. Lack in their sincerity and negligence allow the unsafe habits and breach of regulations.

Though the cry for road safety took a barometrical peak a couple of weeks ago following the crushing of two students in the city due to insolent driving by a bus driver, the concerned authorities jumped into disciplining the vehicular movement as well as the users. Even a Traffic Week was announced and still in force to ensure licensed driving. The number of cases filed against faulty drivers itself indicates the horrendous state of affairs in our traffic domain. It also shows the fact that these defaulters have been the risk factors and thanks God that more tragedies did not place.

More importantly, recent reports and posts in the print and social media clearly show that we are back to the square. People are crossing the roads at their own will; they are making aerobic attempts to cross the fence on the road dividers etc. Buses are stopping at their own whim to collect as many passengers; they are racing with others and changing lanes; honking horns even in front of schools and hospitals etc. Everyone seems to be mocking at the signage and regulations It all shows that "old habits die hard". We should not allow our long brewed desperation for road safety to steam away!

mohicsr@gmail.com