It’s your head, silly!

An hour spent at the Kaumudi office in Kochi last weekend, waiting for a friend to finish work and come along, threw open before me a shocking episode in human life. As I sat inside the not-so-cool comforts of the news bureau there, the arterial MG Road down below was witnessing painful moments. Every fifth minute or so, I heard the yell of an ambulance, bearing a hapless soul fighting for life and rushing toward the famed Ernakulam Medical Centre in search of a second birth.

I counted. A shocking six ambulances whizzed past the busy traffic on MG Road in that one hour I sat there. Accidents are made, they never happen, someone said. Does that mean that every hour at least 5-6 accidents happen around us? May be the real numbers are even more.

The way two-wheelers and other vehicles juggle past every moment makes me feel I’m a video game addict trying hard to keep pace with the other gamers on the road. I slow down a bit, only to be treated to a flurry of abuses, some aloud and some, somewhat soliloquies. I try and maneuver through a maze to help the man behind reach office on time, and this time the man in front makes sure he has a mouthful of literary brilliance showered upon on poor me. Lane discipline? Bullshit! The so-called expert drivers flounder on the middle of the tarmac, leaving hapless first timers and novices look losers. Losing is not my cup of game, nor is it for any one on the road.

All the world is my road, come in front and you are sure to be bombarded with all abuses, language no bar. I, too, have added more words to my lexicon of abuse. Can’t help it!

Incidentally, realizing that two wheelers are a menace on the road, the helmet rule was pronounced. Welcome to Kerala, where any rule is no rule. We protested by riding our bikes wearing broken pots and palm leaft hats on our heads. We waylaid poor law abiding citizens, grabbed and threw away their helmets. We even shouted on TV when we were invited to voice our opinion on the helmet rule. One of us argued: “If Tamil Nadu has a helmet rule, good for them!!! Why should we Keralites eat reptiles only because it happens to be a delicacy in another country?” Brilliance, of the first order, indeed!

Close on the heels of the helmet rule, the administration is planning to bring in a seat belt rule in the state. Drivers are being advised to have his/her seat belt on while at the wheel. The rule adds, for the umpteenth time notably, mobile phones are an absolute NO while driving/riding.

Welcome again to Kerala, where any rule is no rule. We are sure to have protest meets against the rule. We may even tear off the seat belts in our cars and throw them in front of the Secretariat building. We may also protest by wearing seat belts while riding our bikes and wearing helmets while inside our cars. We are capable of anything, we are God’s own men and women.

As I write this, the news ticker on my PC gives me the latest news:

Five killed in three accidents in state
Thiruvananthapuram, 4 July:
Five persons have been killed and two seriously injured in three separate accidents in the district today.

In an accident that occurred near Daivappura Temple at Kallambalam, three persons of a family were killed. The accident happened when the Maruti car in which they were traveling collided with a container lorry .

In another incident, an eleven-year-old girl of Pattom Kendriya Vidyalaya was killed when the bike she was traveling collided with a transport bus between Arikkadamukku and Idakkod at Nemom.

Another person was killed when a bus hit his bike in front of the assembly building at Palayam.

May their souls rest in peace.

Comments

Unknown said…
Each rider is king on Kerala roads, crafting his own rules and violations, mouthing the dirtiest words on earth. Even usurping the footpaths, throwing many a leg out of gear. And no king will learn lessons from the umpteen accidents that are manoevred or made. Not even when his own turn comes. Any day prevention is better that cure, as seen from lands abroad.
Latheesh Mohan said…
May be I am a youngster with anarchist tendencies. But can't help but saying: I haven't got any plans to obey the law.
Simply I am not getting why the law is still stubborn about imposing rules. I am damn sure about you can't eradicate anything by banning it or making something very strict (don't tell me about the nations which are doing 'pretty' well by making life a hell with rule umpteen. I am capable of giving you the crime graph of those nations).
What you will do if the govt made it strict to wear umbrella when it rains? They say people get sick when they are wet :). So, isn’t it the responsibility of the govt to save its citizens from the rain and the diseases. Silly, of course :)
Helmet or not. Let the the rebels live long :)
Phoenix said…
I am totally in sync with you on ur thoughts.But recently there have been reports talking about accidents with people wearing helmets.Hasn't it become a common thing to then blame the government for the mishap when the readers should have bought helmets of good quality??
But to be fair,wearing a helmet does reduce the hearing of a person doesn't it?But if it can prevent bigger problems,isn't that better??
But I've got sumthing 2 say 2 latheesh....using an umbrella,a helmet or a seat belt is plain common sense and only for safety.If ur willing to take a risk with ur life,fine...no probs
Renuka Raj said…
Give us a break Sanjeev... We Indians get our competitive juices only when driving on the road. We're bad at sport, academics, creating wealth for others, nation building... name it and we are nowhere in the top echelons. But, on the roads, nobody can beat us. Check with any videshi friends of yours and they go "WOW, you guys are simply unbeatable on the roads."
Renuka Raj said…
While on it, I'd like to ask Dear Latheesh what HIS responsibilities are? And who is this government that he feels should be all pervading? Globally, there are law breakers, but in India we have chaps like you who possibly don't even know what the law is, forget about abiding or breaking it. And while, I'm on the subject, what makes you think that a wrong somewhere else gives you the right copy it and go wrong? So if the outside world is not doing well with laws, does it mean we shouldn't have any at all. Laws are required only because each of us fail to realize responsibilities as a citizen, a social animal and then as a family person.
bhamsblog said…
Nice graphic pix on road indisciplne and public insensitivity. @Latheesh:When accidents happen in any public space then the issue becomes larger than personal freedom. If wearing helmets or seat belts are a worthwhile precaution, it is better to look at it in that perspective. Why do you lock your car or your house? Because you want to protect your wealth. Why not the same courtesy to your body if not for the other man on the road. And tell me, if by following road disciplne we all reach our destinations a little late, si that such a big deal?
peter ivan said…
May be i wont agree with what you have written,but then i would love to just tune into your blogs ,becoze its written with such ease as if its a song composed by maestroes....
Sanjeev said…
Thanx for the comments, all those who ran through my post.

Raj, Manu, Bhama: Thanx for making Latheesh do a bit of thinking.

Peter Ivan: Thanx for the nice words.
Unknown said…
Instead of imposing rules to help certain industires, the damn authorities can improve road infrastructure, that's a better bet.
Latheesh Mohan said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Latheesh Mohan said…
Atlast somebody commented against the authorities. Glad news!!

See, I agree with Manu who says 'using an umbrella,a helmet or a seat belt is plain common sense'. 'My-life-is-precious-for me' is some attitude that surely make sense. But it's a personal thing. You have to behave and think like that in order to make a healthy society.
Rules can dictate the way the society lives, but neither it makes sense nor the awareness.
Teachers beat students up when they fail to convince them. Govt does the same :)

After all, common sense is not that common.
Unknown said…
good job sanjeev.its gods own country-who always asks for 'freedom'.but freedom from what?from law?once an accident occurs ,its no more a personal issue.so many people get involves in it to make the things straight (or to save that person who must have thought about freedom of breaking laws) -onlookers,police,hospital staff,press and some times MACT as well as insurance companies.waste of man power and one more burden on govt.if all these can (at least a portion of that)be avoided by wearing a helmet,let it be.
Abhinav Sood said…
Our Punjab is another Kerala,for that. The only difference I see is that "keralites" speak. For the Punjabis,their vehicles (too!) speak for them, by them. "Ruck Fules" can be seen on every other mobike, in some kind of glittering art-form(or otherwise!)

I presently stay in Chandigarh, where its mandatory to wear helmets,seatbelts and take all sorts of safety measures(and they are strictly implemented also).

My personal opinion: I wouldn't have ever minded wearing a helmet, only if it didnt scr*w my hairstyle ... LoL

Regards
TechXtreme
Abhinav Sood said…
And yes, Your blog made a nice read for this night of mine. BlogRolled you (See TechXtreme)

Will be visiting you often, now on!

Good going.
Regards
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