Of irresponsible stunts on roads
   Date :06-Mar-2025

Footloose-in-Bhopal
 
By Vijay Phanshikar :
 
THAT the people in the city of lakes are happy with the general improvement in the quality of roads in the past some time, must be noted. But when that sense of happiness spills out in the form of rash driving of motor cars and two-wheelers and also in the form of dangerous stunts that jeopardise lives of the drivers or riders or others on the road, then it is time to apply a stern brake on such activities. That is what Bhopal cops have done in the past couple of days -- by taking strict action against people who felt that roads are circus rings where they could do anything with their vehicles. Common people have every reason to be happy with this strict action. Unfortunate it is that many young persons -- male or female -- feel tempted to violate their own good sense and indulge in rash and negligent driving and riding of their cars and two-wheelers at anytime of the day on any road, no matter the fact that their actions may create trouble for the general traffic.
 
For such persons trying to indulge in such misconduct, there are laws -- which are not implemented strictly by the Traffic Police. Much of the trouble is due this slackness, one must insist. There also is a social angle to this issue -- of lack of appropriate control of the families on their youngsters riding or driving out their vehicles in many cases without the permissions of the family elders. In many cases, such youngsters even do not possess driving licenses as well. In many places around the country, cops are known to conduct successful social drives against such lack of family control on youngsters. In some other places, Police officers invite family-elders of miscreant youths to issue strict warning -- so that their youngsters stop indulging in nonsense on roads. Another social angle to this issue is the need for voluntary social action groups exercising efficient control on wrongful or indisciplined behaviour on roads -- not just by youngsters but also by others.
 
Many cities in the country have such groups working selflessly to introduce an element of traffic discipline. Bhopal, too, needs some such groups. True, the loosefooter has seen many members of general public accosting violators of traffic regulations and urging them to conduct themselves properly on roads. But such actions need a larger social push so that slowly the capital of Madhya Pradesh assumes a reputation for its orderly traffic in the time to come. Yes, the loosefooter also knows a few Police officers in Bhopal attempting to organise voluntary action by people in general in this regard. Possibly, the city needs a very serious attempt to organise a popular campaign in favour of greater traffic discipline on roads. n