Not a cheap life

Bengaluru is accustomed to drivers who break rules and put others' lives in danger. While on the road, what can you do to make things easier for pedestrians and fellow drivers?

Someone famous once said, “Life is what you make out of it.” How true is this adage, considering the death of a 17-year-old boy from JP Nagar 7th Phase who was mercilessly mowed down by a car? The incident was reported in local newspapers, and it makes us wonder if your life is in fact what others make for you.

What is needed is road discipline by people behind the wheel. If one steps into the four-road junction in front of Brigade Millennium apartment complex in JP Nagar, one can observe that:

•Despite traffic signals in place, two wheelers whizz past when the signal is red, right under the cop’s nose

•Two wheelers ride on the pavement, so as to be the first to speed when the signal turns green

•The number of underage drivers is on the rise

•Driving/riding while talking on a cell phone is common

•Cars and two wheelers stop over the zebra crossing, making it difficult for people to cross the road

Peak traffic time from 5-8 pm is also when many youngsters step out. Are parents required to accompany teenagers everywhere? Helping them negotiate crossing roads is contradictory to raising them to be on their own. As parents and responsible citizens, we must step out of our comfort zones and create a safe environment for our children.

We can’t change the minds of the multitude of people who drive, but at least the next time we are behind the wheel, let us remember that people on the roads are someone’s loved ones. Human life is not cheap and needs to be respected. This will be emulated by our children.

We can make a difference by:

•Stopping ahead of the zebra line at traffic signals, making them pedestrian-friendly.

•There surely is no harm in waiting a few extra minutes at the signal. We don’t need to speed after the signal turns red.

•Give right of way to ambulances.

•Don’t intimidate people by revving up your engine while they cross the road. It does not show heroism.

Life is to be lived with mutual respect and not in threat and fear!

Comments:

  1. Surya Prasad says:

    I have recently starting long walks (sometimes inevitably on roads). I usually walk in the opposite direction to flow of travel (so that, I see traffic in front of me, than worrying about traffic behind me). What really scares me is people overtaking from the wrong side.
    People just do not care about the life of people on foot! Wish people do realize this!

  2. Aarti Prashant says:

    A great effort!! Am sure u can go a long way… As regards the article, yes I am saddened by the sheer traffic indiscipline in our country… We need to get a lot responsible, try n appreciate others as well as our lives coz its too precious… This incident happens each day in each city and things are indeed taken for granted… As responsible citizens we need to try n get a little sensitive towards fellow citizens… 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

,

Maharashtra cities need a mobility fix: Building roads not a solution

Mumbai and other urban centres in Maharashtra have seen a surge in vehicle ownership, while public transport needs have not been met.

Maharashtra, one of India’s most urbanised States, faces a transportation crisis that has snowballed into a public health, environmental, and economic challenge. With over half its population residing in urban areas, Maharashtra is home to 28 municipal corporations — the highest in the country. Cities like Mumbai and Pune are struggling with the relentless surge in vehicle ownership, which has led to traffic congestion, alarming pollution levels, and a steep rise in road crashes.  Despite these pressing concerns, many cities have pursued an approach focused on expanding road infrastructure, relying on flyovers and highways to absorb traffic overflow. However, experts…

Similar Story

Walkability and affordable transit ignored as elections focus on big projects in Mumbai

Political parties are harping on big-ticket projects, while hardly anyone is focusing on the city's lifelines — BEST and railways.

As the Maharashtra state elections get underway, the daily struggles of Mumbai's citizens, especially their commuting woes, seem to be overlooked in the electoral discourse. Political parties are focusing on massive infrastructure projects, sidelining the city's lifelines like the Railways and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking in favour of the Metro Rail. Despite being partially operational, the Metro has yet to make a significant impact. Surveys reveal that 52% of Mumbaikars walk to work, yet on many roads, pedestrian infrastructure remains neglected, encroached upon, and unusable. While traffic congestion has made commuting a nightmare, trains are perennially…