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Importance of our concern for safety

Alas! This is how we treat our fellow motorists for buying something they have long aspired for, spending their hard earned money.

Emvi recently shared this with other BHPians.

2020 has been a year to forget, ironically it is the one that will be remembered forever.

SAFETY has been the most discussed topic these days. If ever there was an award for "Word of the Year" it would go to "SAFETY" hands down in my opinion and rightly so, given the pandemic situation we are all in. This presents me an opportunity to touch upon a few things that have been lingering in my mind since last few months.

Whenever a crash test rating for a particular vehicle is published or whenever a vehicle gets involved in an unfortunate road accident, a lot of buzz is created in social media. Lot of netizens go ga-ga over SAFE cars or bash UNSAFE cars. People take pride in owning SAFE cars, which is absolutely perfect. But people who own the so called UNSAFE cars are looked upon as criminals! The UNSAFE cars are called tincans, carts, coffin on wheels and what not. And the owners of such vehicles are called morons, idiots and stupids! Alas! This is how we treat our fellow motorists for buying something they have long aspired for, spending their hard earned money.

My thoughts are straight and simple.

1. How safe is our public transport system? The buses, vans, trucks and cabs. Most of our kids go to schools by school buses. How safe are these buses? Do they have crash test ratings - I seriously doubt. Forget crash test ratings, they don't even have seat belts. And what about auto rickshaws!

2. How safe are the two wheelers? Be it a bicycle or a sub 100cc moped or a 1000cc plus superbike, how safe are they on Indian roads irrespective of the speeds they are ridden at. Fine, a person upgrades to a car from two wheeler for safety, and then he is blatantly criticised for buying "Tincans". Sorry, I don't get this logic. India still is a developing country and majority of our population is still middle class.

3. Many of us might own SAFE cars, but how safe/unsafe is our workplace!? Everyone can't afford an air-conditioned comfortable workplace, but no one is concerned about their safety. The moment we see a "Tincan" on the road, everyone's concerned about the safety of the car owner and his family! Hypocrisy much?

How many of us wear seatbelts and ensure co-passengers also wear seatbelts while travelling in a car? How many of us wear helmets or safety gears each time we go out on a two wheeler? How many of us wear facemasks each time we venture out? How many of us restrict our kids from peeping out through sunroofs in a travelling car? How many of us restrict our kids from cycling on the main roads?

Everyone's concerned about themselves or their family more than anyone else. A lot of factors influence a person when he/she spends his/her hard earned money on something. After all, owning or driving a "Tincan" is not a crime by any stretch of imagination. If it is, then a lot of other things that we do is a crime as well. In that case, a lot of sinners and very few saints in this world. Period!

Thanks to Emvi once again! Check out BHPian comments for more insights & information.

 
Power to the people