When you pour hot water on ice, after some time the ice melts, similarly, when more and more new vehicles buzz on our already congested roads, accidents are bound to happen. Therefore, our state has forced helmet on riders’ head.
But it is said: “fools learn by their own mistakes (when accident happens) but wise learn by the mistakes of others (when mishap strikes others).”
Riders should wear helmet and drivers should be cautious while driving, for no one can expect safety where there is chaos and traffic indiscipline on the roads.
Chaos is caused by improper parking on roadside as per the whims and fancies of riders and drivers; by putting some vehicles in a Robinson Crusoe situation; that is, instead of being abandoned on an unknown island surrounded by water, vehicles are marooned in the middle of the road surrounded by the parking of impatient vehicle owners. Thus, making our narrow roads narrower and causing traffic jams.
Indiscipline on our roads is chiefly caused by motorcyclist and ‘rickshaw-wallas’ who behave like owners of motorways by twisting and turning through narrowest available space to overtake cars from right or left; and skip traffic circles and go the wrong way down the one-way street. Often they are never on the ground. They simply fly. It looks as if their vehicles have no brakes fitted to them.
On our roads Death, waits to take any one in his arms! Therefore, helmet should also be forced on the head of pillion riders The rule to protect only rider’s head and not to save pillion’s skull from harm amounts to discrimination. Those who want to travel on motorbike should carry a helmet with them or use the extra helmet with the pilot. Let there be “Equality before law”.
Death also comes like lightening to those who walk by the side of our road, as many vehicles slip, slide and trip; and maim and lame perambulators. So, helmets should also be worn by pedestrians as they too are in danger of being knocked down by ill-discipline riders and drivers who zoom on road – 6 feet above the ground like a flying machine — after downing the local brew to ease their limbs and thus making Johnny walkers on road lame or maim.
The role played by the police is most stressful — a Herculean task! Heroic duty! No policemen can concentrate, perfectly well, on two things at the same time — to keep an eagle’s eye on helmetless heads, to challan them; and the other a wild chase to catch the devilish drives of drivers and riders.
Let us not dodge or cheat the traffic cop by dressing the head with the helmet on seeing them from a distance and then removing the head covering after crossing the law enforcement officials. Let us show thoughtfulness by reducing the double job of the constabulary, so that, they efficiently keep a watch only on the indiscipline on the road, if all of us, unfailingly, wear helmets. Better to bear the weight of the helmet than to take the risk of injuring the head. Precaution is better than cure. Let all of us wear a helmet leaving the police to handle only the indiscipline on the road which leaves many people crippled.
