Almost every day, we read news about ghastly and fatal crashes on the roads across the country. It is a fact that for most of us, a road journey, short or long, is no longer safe in India. Our careful and safe driving – following traffic norms – does not help us because of just a few irresponsible, aggressive and unmanageable drivers, who somehow manage to get away from the clutches of law…leaving the majority of us who follow the rules, disgusted, frustrated and helpless. It is scary to remain exposed to danger from reckless high speed and abrupt lane-changing driving by some road users.

How long can just a few unprofessional drivers, boisterous brats and rogues, who at times get drunk and drive, be allowed to make the roads unsafe and hazardous for the majority of law abiding commuters, cyclists, pedestrians and innocent passengers in buses etc? Knee-jerk traffic drives against dark glasses, over speeding, jumping red lights, not wearing helmets, not having pollution certificates and displaying caste symbols on the rear windscreen etc. by the authorities appear comical now; they add more salt to wounds than provide any assurance or sense of safety to most of us. However, the story at road crossings, roads within the cities including highways etc. becomes totally different during visits of VIPs. Suddenly, traffic police and patrol vehicles appear at all busy intersections, city roads and even expressways. The traffic becomes disciplined and flows the way it ought to move all the time. During such times, most of us feel safe and secure to drive.

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One wonders why the same protection is not extended on all days.........

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