Disturbing figure of road fatality Over 100 deaths a year
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834 deaths in the last 7 years and this works out to over 100 deaths in a year and this should wake up everyone on the primacy of safety. In giving this statistics, Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Bajpai also spelt out the disturbing figure of 29 percent fatality rate in road accidents, which is way above the National average of 9.3 percent. Not being alarmist but 29 deaths for every hundred accident is indeed worrying and while the number or frequency of road accidents in Manipur has not been spelt out, common sense says that it could not be higher than some of the cities in India, where traffic is much heavier. There could be many factors for the high death rate in road accidents here, and one reason would obviously be the absence of safety protocols followed by the people, particularly by those behind the wheels. Take Imphal for example. It is still not yet clear whether helmets have been made mandatory for two wheeler riders. And if it is, then are helmets compulsory for the pillion riders ? This again is not clear or if such an announcement has been made it would help for the Traffic Police to remind the people on this count. It is also not clear whether seat belt has been made mandatory. If it has then it is not seen being enforced on the roads of Imphal on any day, at any given point of time. A combination of an indifferent people and a lethargic Traffic Police can make a lethal combination and this could be one of the factors for the abnormally high death rate in road accidents here. Road safety should mean giving a thought to the other road users too and this should also apply equally to the suited, booted Government officials in their chauffeured cars and other vehicles as well as to the uniformed personnel who move around as if the road is their family heirloom. Not uncommon is it to see the pilot vehicle zooming in at full speed with another ‘attendant’ waving his hands to shoo off the other road users. Not uncommon is it also to see other vehicles being stopped while the uniformed gentlemen and his convoys jump the red light with a sense of impunity. And when the road is turned topsy turvy during the movement of any class of these citizens who come under the VIP tag, then one can expect a circus on the road. The roads at Imphal stand as mute testimonies to all these charades being played out in broad daylight as well as at night. When the class of people who come under the VIP tag throw their weight around, then it is not surprising that those who come lower down in the pecking order, the common people, not to think much about overtaking from the left, blowing the horn of their vehicle as if the world is coming to an end. Throwing one’s weight around in the middle of the road and refusing to accept the fact that safe driving also means ensuring the safety of others do come together to create havoc on the road and in some unfortunate cases, lead to road mishaps. The tragedy is a Tomba who is not at all a party to the road drama enacted may just end up being the victim of the road accident.
Take the road heroes and the potholes filled and bumpy roads together and the script is ready for Manipur to come out with such a disturbing figure of over 100 deaths in a year due to road accidents. And how about those who were fortunate to have escaped death, but end up losing all ability to move ? Take the figure of deaths and the unspecified number of those injured in different road accidents in a year and truly the figure will only be more frightening. There is also no record to show how many of those involved in road accidents are underaged drivers. The Govt will need to think out of the box to discourage parents and elders of the family from handing over the car keys to their children if they have not yet come of age to legally drive. The Traffic Police may take a leaf or two from some places where parents are made to face the music when any underaged boys and girls are found driving. The Government may also look at the possibility of including safe driving as part of the curriculum in the schools of Manipur. This can go some way in imparting the value of responsible driving to the young children. The figure spelt out by the Additional Chief Secretary is certainly disturbing and making the roads more safe should start with the line, ‘The road is not my fiefdom or family heirloom.’
Take the road heroes and the potholes filled and bumpy roads together and the script is ready for Manipur to come out with such a disturbing figure of over 100 deaths in a year due to road accidents. And how about those who were fortunate to have escaped death, but end up losing all ability to move ? Take the figure of deaths and the unspecified number of those injured in different road accidents in a year and truly the figure will only be more frightening. There is also no record to show how many of those involved in road accidents are underaged drivers. The Govt will need to think out of the box to discourage parents and elders of the family from handing over the car keys to their children if they have not yet come of age to legally drive. The Traffic Police may take a leaf or two from some places where parents are made to face the music when any underaged boys and girls are found driving. The Government may also look at the possibility of including safe driving as part of the curriculum in the schools of Manipur. This can go some way in imparting the value of responsible driving to the young children. The figure spelt out by the Additional Chief Secretary is certainly disturbing and making the roads more safe should start with the line, ‘The road is not my fiefdom or family heirloom.’