Simba: “But you’re not scared of anything.”
Mufasa: “I was today. I thought I might lose you.”
–The Lion King
My hubby bought a bicycle for our daughter last week.
He also bought a helmet for her.
I appreciated this a great deal and understood his concern for our child's safety.
I remembered cricketer Phillip Hughes recent death then. Had he been wearing a helmet, he'd have been saved.
Also Minister Shri Gopinath Munde would have been safe had he worn his seat-belt...
I also thought of the myriad cases in which youngsters don't wear helmets, speed their bikes, flout traffic-rules...
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Many have no valid Driving-License/documents nor have reached the legal age, yet are out there on the roads...
Like Mufasa, aren't they scared of any loss?
It will always be a mystery for me-
-Why some people can be so negligent towards their own life and impact the life of others?
-Do they understand the consequences of their actions- their rash & unsafe driving can cause death?
As per a Transport Ministry study conducted by National Informatics Centre
(NIC):
“74 lakh Driving Licences (DLs) may be fake” i.e. “13% of 6 crore permits are duplicate”.
The total number of fake or duplicate DLs in India is equal to the total population of Hong Kong.
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In the Hindi movie- Ungli, the corrupt-official who hands out fake
Driving-Licence, is made to travel as a passenger in a vehicle driven by the
same newbie-driver whom he has handed over the DL! Serves him right!
In the Hindi movie- Dushman, the truck-driver hero is actually an 'enemy' for the community as he has run over a man. The hero comes to apologize and then does many good works to become a 'friend'.
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In the Hindi movie- Saathiya, a newbie-driver is responsible for the accident of the heroine in the climax. The heroine thankfully survives after a lot of anxious moments...
I feel movies can give social message about road-safety.
There can be more awareness in the media too.
Recently, I watched a TV-show about the case of Mr. Vikram Saxena who has
filed a PIL about overloaded trucks after losing his son in an accident.
From his research and experience of follow-ups over many years, Mr. Saxena found- Despite traffic-rules and orders in place, implementation is an issue. Administration
is responsible for enforcing order. We need a corruption-free government.
Longevity of roads reduces when overloaded trucks travel. Highway accidents occur
due to bad roads too. Drunken driving is also an issue.
People cross railway-crossings. Fairly common & sad to learn about accident
of bus/vehicle carrying innocent school-children. Drivers need to have sense. Better
late & safe than be sorry.
Some statistics from the TV-show. In India-
In the year 2010, there were 2,40,000 road accidents.
There are 1,35,000 road-accidents in a year.
Every hour 13 people die due to road-accidents.
My message-
NO SPEEDING. DRIVE SAFE.
DON'T BE A MYSTERY/HISTORY.
NEED TO BE ALIVE TO CREATE HISTORY.
I know & believe- 'Safety Begins With Me', do you? Please share in the comments below.
Written for a Road Safety IndiBlogger contest.
Linking with-
Two Shoes In Texas- Mystery
Note-
Correction: Phil Hughes was indeed wearing a helmet. But, clearly he needed a better safety gear to be saved from the unfortunate accident. Thanks Sammya & Oldegg for sharing.
Always better to be safe than sorry. ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Kathy. Yes, may we all be safe.
DeleteLovely post again Anita di..Nice examples from Bollywood to explain!! Super stuff keep it up!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your appreciation & encouragement, Nikhil :)
Deletehahah! i loved the 'Ungli' one! lol! Nice and informative post! :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best!
Delighted you liked it, Ankita :)
DeleteIf we try the tactics shown in the Ungli movie, then people will not dare to be corrupt or hand our fake DLs :)
Thanks for your wishes!
The worst part in our country is that you may be very safe and following all rules but may get killed because some one did not. :/ I remember the Satyamev Jayate episode. Just breaks my heart, all the stories that I saw there and read everyday in newspapers.
ReplyDeleteWe may be at risk, or suffer accident or get killed for no fault, just because of someone else is negligent. And that's true for any country in any part of the world, Rachna.
DeleteI shared the same point in my previous post on Road Safety.
Do read the real-life story: Safe Reflection
I am yet to watch Ungli :p
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, an important message presented in your own style. I loved the message you have given in the end, the three bold lines especially NEED TO BE ALIVE TO CREATE HISTORY.
All the best for the contest :)
Thanks a lot for your nice words & good wishes, Anmol :)
DeleteCool examples to strengthen your point. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Thanks for your appreciation, Indrani :)
DeleteVery nice Anita! You have amazing ability to explain your point with simple examples. I agree that fake driving license is a major concern and should be dealt properly!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your amazing words, Ratna :)
DeleteAlways lovely to hear from you! Yes, may we have NO fake DLs and irresponsible drivers...
Good post. I Would be glad if you read my entry and drop a comment on the same. It'shttps://gangsofedathua.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/the-long-and-winding-road-to-redemption/ all the best
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Aneesh :)
DeleteHopping over to your blog now...
I so agree with you Anita, it is in our own interest to drive safe and yet ...
ReplyDeleteTrue Mridula. Everyone ought to drive responsibly.
DeleteGreat awareness! Totally agree! ~ Thanks for stopping by x
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading & for your comment :)
DeleteI did like your post...it's as spicy and dramatic as always.
ReplyDeleteJust a slight correction that I'd like to suggest: Phil Hughes was actually wearing a helmet :)
Thanks for your appreciation & for the correction, Sammya :)
DeleteMy mistake. Will mention the error above.
We need better protective-helmets.
How important your message is Anita. Sadly so many drivers think they are invincible and driving makes them different people. I loved the way you illustrated your post with the movies as examples. You mentioned Phil Hughes the Australian batsman who died recently in a cricket match. Sadly he was wearing a helmet as Sammya says above but he turned his head to avoid a bouncer and it struck him in the back of the neck which resulted in his death.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your words here & for more info about Phil Hughes.
DeleteI'm afraid I wasn't aware and was misguided about helmets. Fact is- We need better protection & sturdy life-saving gear...
Will mention the correction.
A very good message here. My husband is an over the road, long haul trucker. Road safety cannot be stressed enough. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by & for sharing. This post is for a road safety campaign.
DeleteOur safety is very important. Thanks for your appreciation.
An excellent essay about safety and concern for others. I so agree with you that it is a total mystery why some people are so reckless with their lives and the lives of others. Just today I was very nearly involved in a serious collision with a person who ran thru a stop sign at a high rate of speed downtown where I work. She did not even slow down or look for the sign. I was in the right, but had my brakes not worked quickly I would have been dead right. It was scary and it made me angry too. We need to slow down and be more cautious! This was a great post!
ReplyDeleteGosh! Thank God you are safe, Josie.
DeleteWhy do we have to pay for the mistakes of others?
Even I have been in similar situation before. Have survived an accident miraculously too...
Thanks for your appreciation :)
Yes Ash. I have shared the same point in my previous post- Safe Reflection
ReplyDeleteHope everyone is responsible & there are no mistakes...
OMG! The statistics you mentioned shook me... Seriously, why should innocents have to pay for the mistakes of others??? May every careless person be careful and may everyone be safe!
ReplyDeleteTC! Keep smiling :)
Truly Sindhu.
DeleteMay all be well...
Keep Smiling!
And, nice that your husband has given your daughter a helmet along with the bicycle... It will make her remember the safety rules :) May every child be able to learn safety lessons right from home!
ReplyDeleteYes, Sindhu! Traffic-Safety rules/lessons need to be imparted early & to every child & at every home.
DeleteStay blessed :)
It is amazing how some people don't think helmets are "cool" so they endanger their lives. Thanks for sharing all this valuable information.
ReplyDeleteVery true, Val.
DeletePeople don't wear helmets as it affects their 'looks'. But, they compromise on their lives...
Thanks for reading & commenting :)
I hope everyone will be more careful about traffic safety.
ReplyDelete... I don't wear a helmet when I ride my bicycle. Probably, I should get a helmet.
Indeed Romi.
DeleteHope & pray that everyone is careful.
Wearing a helmet is important for safety.
Do take care :)
Not wearing a helmet puts his/her own life at risk but careless drivers, bypassing the license requirement with fake ones, are a risk to themselves and others.
ReplyDeleteThe author does seem to be a movie buff and wonder if she missed out the careless pillion rider in the movie Ijaazat, where the accident is due to the scarf of the lady getting entangled in the wheel of the bike.
Accidents can only happen to others, nothing will happen to me leads to many taking things casually (I am guilty of the same too) and this needs to change. Hopefully your article would contribute and have an impact :-)
Very true. I agree with your points.
DeleteJust mentioned a few movies out of my top-of-mind recall. This is not an exhaustive list as there are many more movies that have shown accidents.
I have not watched Ijaazat movie. However, have read a lot of news-items where girls have lost their lives owing to Dupattas/Sarees getting entangled in bike's wheel. Everyone needs to be careful. Better to be safe than sorry.
Thanks for your maiden visit & comment on my Blog :)
Do keep visiting and sharing such valuable insights.