Human lives are precious but who gives a damn!! At least this is what increasing deaths in road accidents tell us.
Every day news paper hits your table with the same blood-red news of deaths in accidents but we just are sympathetic for a while for the poor victim and then move on to turn the page. Some even thank God that they were spared.
Some are interested in knowing the area , cast or religion the victim belonged to so that they can decide whether they have to mourn or celebrate.
Sadly, the age of the deceased also determines our reactions. If any younger dies in an accident, people are quick to attach the incident with drunk driving or fast driving. When our judgmental attitude is at work, how can gender be left behind?
No one can beat us in making such yardsticks!! If a woman was driving and accident has taken place, hardly any man is bothered to know the real reason of accident. Rather they will use it to reaffirm their conviction that women can never drive better than man. And why to spare media? Indian media has unique way to discuss accidents. They hardly write on root cause or care to do follow up stories.
They are more bothered to estimate the emotional viability of the accident. If the victim was lone son or only brother of 4 sisters then the emotions can be tabbed easily otherwise they have to work ‘hard’ to find out more information that can provoke more empathy towards victims and their families.
They seem to know well what their readers want to read and strongly believe that their job is to serve them instead of suggesting right.
No one has time to think about the real reasons behind such accident cases. Not one is bothered to know the safety lapses that led to accident so that lesson can be learnt and repetitions can be minimised.
If signal system or road construction are the cause then where is the collective effort to raise the voice against it? We have developed the habit of crying, only when flame reaches to us. We are hardly bothered when fire is at some one else’s house.Breaking rules is cool in India….a reflection of true macho man.
All of these needs to be changed. Following traffic rules, wearing helmet and seat belts, raising voice against cracked road, pointing wrongly placed hoardings, keeping slow pace, minimising honk, keeping driving papers up-to-date are some etiquettes to be followed in order to become the civilised members of a responsible society.
If adherence to traffic rules can save many lives, we must co-operate with the authorities trying to regularise things. Bribing traffic police can not make death merciful, remember that!!
There is no fun in ditching the traffic police standing on road for checking, ditch death by being disciplined . That will be real smartness!!
(Articles and opinions reflect personal views, perspectives and arguments of the author. Opinions expressed in columns and articles in no way represent views and opinions of Town Post, its editor or its editorial policies.)
