We live in a country which has one of the highest rates of
road accidents in the world. According to the latest WHO report, one person is
killed every 25 seconds as a result of accidents on the road. Lakhs of lives
are lost every year in India as a consequence of road mishaps; probably the
most tragic part of this is that most of these are actually preventable if
proper road safety measures are followed. The impact that good road safety
habits can have on us cannot be understated.
It is not surprising that in a country where the most number
of road fatalities occur, the compliance of safety measures is shockingly low.
Look out on the road for five minutes and count the number of two-wheelers –
how many of those riding them are actually wearing a helmet? Rash driving,
talking on the phone while driving, drunken driving and not wearing seat belts
are some of the other causes that have a significant impact in causing road accidents.
Most safety measures are well within the reach of the common
man. A person who can afford to buy a motorbike can most certainly afford to
buy a helmet as well. Practically every car comes equipped with seat-belts.
Rash driving is something that definitely needs to be controlled; the attitude
needs to be instilled in every occupant on the road. A lot of people complain
that wearing a helmet or seat-belt is an inconvenience to them. In my opinion,
this is a habit that needs getting used to until it ceases to be bothersome –
it hardly takes more than a week. Statistics show that injuries and deaths are
significantly lower in groups that adopt these road safety measures, compared
to those who do not.
The non-compliance of road safety measures stems from a
dangerous mind-set that says, “nothing is going to happen to me”. The basic
definition of an accident is an incident that occurs unexpectedly and
unintentionally, and can strike anyone at any time. Once we realize the
vulnerabilities of our own existence, and the impact that our death or
disability can have on others, it becomes sensible to adopt measures to protect
ourselves and our loved ones. Many a time, it takes an unfortunate incident to
strike someone close to us to realize the shoestring on which we’ve been
hanging all along. I lost my uncle as a result of a freak accident four years
ago, and the impact that it has had on his parents, brother, wife and little
kids, as well as those who were close to him, is terrible indeed.
It is good to know that the new Tata Zica comes equipped
with ABS, EBD and dual air-bags for the front seat passengers. The impact of
road safety measures has been neglected in India for a long time, and it is
reassuring to know that companies like Tata are leading the way.
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