ROAD ACCIDENTS: SPEEDING IS BECOMING THE ENEMY OF YOUTHS

ROAD ACCIDENTS: SPEEDING IS BECOMING THE ENEMY OF YOUTHS

28-FEB-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA---------------------------Road accidents have become a scourge for our society today. Every day, we see in newspapers and news channels that many promising young men and women lose their lives prematurely on the road. Despite repeated guidelines issued by the Transport Department, a segment of drivers continues to endanger their own lives as well as the lives of others.

Excessive speeding is not just a violation of rules, it is a self-defeating act. The risk of a driver losing control increases by 90% when driving at high speeds. According to Transport Department data, most accidents occur at night or on deserted roads due to excessive speeding. Our society must understand that someone is waiting for them at home. Putting their entire lives on hold for momentary pleasure or thrills is not wise. Therefore, let us take a pledge—“Follow the rules on the road, keep lives safe.”

To do this, we need to pay attention to a few small things:

Road Safety Awareness Campaign: Follow the speed limit. Don't drive faster than the speed limit set by the Transport Department.

Helmets and Seatbelts: Always use a helmet on two-wheelers and a seatbelt on four-wheelers.

Don't Drive While Intoxicated: In a world of intoxication, it's not appropriate to forget the importance of life.

Mobile Phone Use: Using a mobile phone while driving is like inviting death.

Safe Return Home: It's better to reach home safely than to reach death's doorstep prematurely.

If we all follow the Transport Department's rules, we will certainly be able to keep society safe. Otherwise, a big question has arisen in our society: "Road intoxication or the cry of death? The young generation is perishing by mocking the rules of transportation!"

Today, road accidents have spread like an epidemic in our state as well as in various parts of the country. Despite repeated warnings from the Transport Department, hundreds of people are losing their lives every day due to the recklessness and passion for speeding of some drivers. The competition for high-speed driving, especially among young people between the ages of 18 and 30, is a matter of grave concern for society today.

Approximately 71.2% of all road accidents in India are caused by excessive speeding.

More than 1.5 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents every year. This means approximately 18 people die on the roads every hour in India.

Approximately 66.5% of the victims of these accidents are in the working age group (18-45 years).

Therefore, the rules under the law must be tightened. Violators should not only be fined, but also face measures such as permanent license cancellation. Road safety is not the responsibility of any one department; it should become a mass movement. The Transport Department's instructions are not for our own safety, but for saving lives. Therefore, remembering the principle "Lack of caution leads to accidents," it is time for us to become responsible drivers.

It must also be said that sometimes, due to the mistakes of others, road safety becomes a tragic chapter for innocent people. The current "speed race" on the roads not only poses a danger to drivers but also poses a threat to the general public. Even those who follow every rule, wear helmets, wear seatbelts, and drive at the correct speed are not safe today.

Wrongful overtaking: In the race to come from the opposite direction or to overtake others, a conscious driver is pushed into an accident.

Pedestrian vulnerability: Pedestrians and cyclists walking on the roadside often fall victim to speeding vehicles. The pedestrian is not at fault, yet a driver's "carelessness" can result in the loss of their lives.

Drunk Drivers: Tragic incidents of drunk drivers losing control and ramming into roadside shops or people have been on the rise recently.

The notion "I'm following the rules, so I'm safe" is proving false on today's roads. In our society, the irresponsibility of others can lead even a conscious driver into an accident and take their life.