There is a lot of hue and cry about the rule of the helmet, to be made compulsory for both rider and pillion, in Goa. Will wearing helmets reduce the number of accidents? Will wearing helmets reduce deaths on the road? Will wearing helmets change the carelessness of the riders.
Accidents happen due to the ‘nut behind the wheel or the handle bar’. Most of the accidents are caused by the ‘nut’ behind the wheel. The rest could be mechanical faults.
Accidents and deaths on the road have to be reduced. A little extra care can do this. Today, one can get a licence to drive, by underhand payments. If one has the confidence, that one can handle a vehicle, go for the licence by all means. But does this happen? And what is the penalty for fatal accidents. After a few months these ‘culprits’ are back on the road. And their carelessness increases as they are not penalized. In foreign countries there are negative points and after amassing certain negative points the licence is cancelled. Here the RTO cannot and will not cancel licences. Why can’t an amendment be made to the motor vehicle act to enable the law to cancel the licence.
Take the condition of the roads. There are pot holes everywhere, there are no markings on some and many roads have their own bumps. Speedbreakers are unmarked. Some have paint, that is washed off and still others are so badly designed that an accident can occur. Why does not the transport minister check these out.
There are no road manners taught at the driving schools. The reason for attending a driving school is only to get a licence. But does the end justify the means. If a driver is struggling to reverse or to take a turn, no one will stop and out of courtesy, let him do what he is struggling to do. There will be six others blaring their horns. A little bit of courtesy would help. So would courtesy help while driving at night with high beams, blinding the driver of the other vehicle. And to add to the problem some car manufacturers have four lights on certain models.
Wearing helmets will not reduce accidents. Deaths may reduce but what happens when some other part of your body is injured, like the leg or the spinal column. Would one like to live like a cripple or a vegetable for the rest of one’s life! If the authorities wish to make use of helmets compulsory, by all means go ahead but if they are really interested in safety on the roads, then improve the condition of the roads. Ban the use of mobiles while driving and empower cops to fine on the spot. So also introduce a heavy fine for speeding maniacs and cancel the licences of serious offenders and drunk drivers. And most of all, encourage the traffic cops and the RTO officials to be more efficient, honest and create a sense of self respect in them.
