Nissan!
I was returning back from school when I felt a sudden speed in the vehicle in which I was traveling. I looked at the driver and I saw that he was looking out of the window- his eyes were not on the road! Then, as the speed increased, he turned his head, and saw a car in front of us. He switched his foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal. But, the damage had been done. The tires screeched beneath us. Black markings appeared on the road. But- nothing could stop us from slamming into the car which had been slowing down while we were speeding. Then it happened. Everyone one of us in the van was jerked forward. The crunching sound of metal hitting metal. The sudden changing of the body of vehicle.
Both the cars had suffered huge damage. It was saddening. It took a lot of our time and we were late when we reached home. The damage the vehicles suffers is not enough for our country. According to the residents, if something bad happens, it has to be spread in the circles and the elders need to do something about what happened. The next morning I observed that the parents of mostly every single child had come down at the stop to have a discussion on that topic- except mine. My father said, “As long as you aren’t hurt, this thing happens sometimes. It couldn’t be the fault of the driver. Sometimes, it just happens. If it happens next time, then there must be a problem, but for the time being, let it be. This kind of stuff happens in India.”
So, this got me thinking. Why does this kind of stuff happen in India? Are the cars which the residents drive having any protection? Why does these kinds of things happen?After doing a lot of research and interviews. I came down to one solution. Accidents happen in India because of three reasons.
One.
When a person is drunk. When someone is consumed by alcohol, his senses become dull and can’t comprehend in what situation he is. He doesn’t care about anything. He just feels that he is happy as alcohol hides the outer feelings and makes a person feel free. It makes him free like he is a bird in an open sky. And when someone feels like that, they don’t care about anything else. The thrill of driving seems to be more when drunk. So, in short, it ends in a flash and they don’t feel any pain. But, I still feel sorry for the both ends of the accident.
Two
Well, this is basically rash driving. When people get hyped up and start racing. That’s one of the major causes of accidents in India. It is when one gets so excited that they dash away all the rules and regulations and just continue to drive. That race can prove a helluva harmful to someone. All the hit and run cases seem to fall in this category.
Third.
Well, this is not basically a reason, but it is common a lot these days. It’s when youngsters (below the age of 18) learn to drive cars and start driving them around town. Now as every youngster enjoys the thrill of driving, it could turn sour too. A recent example:
“.. A guy in Indirapuram was driving his safari down the road at a very high speed. When reaching at a cross-junction, he didn’t wait for the light and thought that he could easily pass the junction with his high speed. He tried, but ended up getting disastrous results. He smashed into the back portion of an i10 and the front part of a rickshaw. The rickshaw driver, the lady in the back and the safari driver were killed instantly and only the i10 driver survived with many injuries.”
Now, when one thinks of that, is it right to give minors vehicles these days? That’s in short the third reason.
This was what I found out when I interviewed many people. I even have a poem on this today. Check it out:Why was i trying to be a Casanova?For once i think, what was the stupidity for?My elders showed me the right path and guided meSo why did i lose my way and abandoned my teachings?The most useful accord
Where did all my understanding and smartness go?When it was the devil, who asked my childish daring to showThen, me, 'a smart 21st century teen' fell into the dungeonAnd departed into a world, where there is no emotion
My sister said "My brother, you shall drive in your senses"But my greed and senselessness consumed alcohol, breaking all the fencesEven the fence between life and deathFor all i want is another chance, for meth!
O god! I promise you, i shall be wiser than beforeForgive your child and grant another life from your mercy's storeThis time, i shall try to abandon the fault in my starsFor we are who we are!For the first time, this captures the essence of safe driving in one go. Now, how does a pedestrian and all the other drivers be protected from this?
Well, no one can guarantee a person that he won’t die today. If it is in fate: it has to happen. A princess could also die when she was going to her knitting classes. How? She slips by keeping a foot on her dress and breaks her neck by falling. So, in short: death can arrive any time- anywhere.Only thing humans can guarantee for you out there for you is protection. The people I interviewed gave me ideas and examples for that too.
One.
Take the case when a person is driving and crashes into something. As a regular protection: Airbags should be deployed. But, what happens when a person is using an old vehicle? In India, people use their old vehicles for 10-15 years! Now, that’s long. Back then, airbag technology was not yet implemented. The suggestion I received was that one should give the car for servicing once and upgrade the current ballistics. That is the only way one can stay safe in vehicles.
Two.
Use the given safety gear. After all, helmets and seat belts are not given without a reason. They have a specific purpose: and they always succeed in their respective areas. I have one experience narrated by my dad to me.
“..We were cadets in NDA. When going on a tour with friends, we decided to have a bike race. I and my partner were against it, but our friend on the opposite bike seemed to force us. They pressured us and thus we agreed. We began racing uphill. Suddenly, on a sharp turn, we skidded, and when we straightened, I flew off from the bike ( As I was sitting behind) , now , as I was wearing a helmet: it saved my head: because when I got up, the fall had only grazed my elbows, but the helmet had a huge crack in its visor. That was the time when I realised the requirement of safety equipment, and I never go out without them now.”
Now, that kind of experience teaches one to follow the rules no matter how and helps them to survive in today’s condition.
Three.
This case applies both for pedestrians as well as drivers. Never ever use headphones or mobiles while walking or driving. It can prove destructive. Take the case, when coming back today, I saw a lady driving a scooty with one hand and talking to someone on her phone with one hand! Another one which surprised me was when I saw a person riding a motorcycle driving the motorcycle with earplugs in his ears. How could the guy hear the horns or the noise produced by an approaching car?
Pedestrians: Same applies for them too. How can they hear a car coming?In all. Safety while driving is a dire need which is not fulfilled or followed in our country. When stopped by Traffic Police, people get off by saying “Aap mere baap ko nahi jaante” or “Army ke bande ko rokoge?”
That’s not at all fair. The man can do nothing to these people as he has a house to feed too. He needs to keep his job too. In the end, only the citizens of India can bring a change in her and the change has to begin with you who is reading this article. Follow the rules today to live tomorrow.
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The link to competition: The Nissan Safety Driving Forum
