There are two stories in the ToI today worth commenting upon.
The first says that the number of road deaths in India now stands at 1,30,000 per year, the highest in the world. Higher even that China, where this figure has been going down every year for more than a decade.
Note that the government wallahs quoted in the news report do not say anything about better roads and traffic management systems.
They are talking about making airbags and ABS compulsory on cars; and "speed governors" mandatory on trucks and buses.
They are putting the blame on others. Actually, the fault lies in their lousy road systems.
In the meantime, the other story has it that there is a flourishing racket in fake drivers' licenses.
This job can easily be taken over by insurance companies, which have a direct financial interest in road safety.
Indeed, we would be safer if the Ministry of Transport was closed down and roads, traffic management and road safety were all entirely taken over by insurance companies.
Just shows that the pmk ramadoss smoking ban is just a smokescreen hiding the real issues in "public health and safety."
We are dying on our streets. They own these potholed streets. They should fix them, not attack smokers - all of whom pay taxes.
Having studied the highways as part of my work in retail network consulting, I can tell you that the three biggest reasons for traffic accidents are - alcohol, sleep and reckless driving. Potholed roads are actually the least responsible because roads with potholes automatically slows down traffic.
ReplyDeleteTo that extent, fake driving licences is a bigger cause of road accidents - all these years of driving in India, 6 out 10 drivers that I see do not qualify to have a licence.
There is also complete disregard and insensitivity even amongst the so-called educated classes (as the various BMW/Mercedes/etc cases testify).
When the signal goes red, one needs to stop, even at 2a.m. and it applies for vehicles and pedestrians. You break it, you are only putting money into the cops pockets.
The issue is road sense which the ministry official has said and it is very true.