Who is to be Blamed?

Early on 19^th February 2012 (Sunday morning), a speeding Lamborghini crashed into the BRT railings in Panchsheel Enclave, leading to the death of the driver on the spot. The deceased was Anukool Rishi, a resident of Sainik Farms in South Delhi. He got married in November 2011 and was all of 26 years of age.

The news of the accident has been streaming all over the net since then, and has become viral beyond the usual. It has brought a sense of scare and fear amid all those who read the details of the incident. It has sprung many debates amid youngsters and parents across the city that stand worried. But would this worry last only a few days till the news tabloids and channels keep people abreast with developments on the incident, or will it leave a lesson behind?

The incident raises the same question again – Whose fault was it, a fault that paid the brunt of someone’s precious life. Was it the victim, our governance or our general sense of responsibility as citizens? People have expressed a lot of concern, anger and unrest after the incident and posted their views on various social platforms. Responses bring forwarded mixed views, suggestions and complaints. However, on a broader scale three perspectives are established.

Government Must Enforce Relevant Rules..

Some citizens have expressed extreme unrest and anger towards the government, citing similar mishaps earlier on account of poor enforcement of laws, road infrastructure and traffic management.

Following are the list of complaints/questions/suggestions expressed by the concerned citizens as a part of this accident. Some of these may seem unreasonable, but some of them indeed highlight areas that lack attention.

1. Why are such high-end sports vehicles allowed on Indian roads that are not meant for high-speed driving? They should only allow vehicles with 90-100 kmph speed limit that would save lives, fuel and money.
2. Infrastructure management and road planning needs focus regarding the flyovers, dividers, and other road structures
3. Traffic management needs overhauling with immediate deployment of better safety devices such as audible strips and other technologies
4. Roads must have wakeup bands, and all the lanes must properly marked; Delhi roads lanes are not marked properly
5. Why isn’t there any patrolling on the roads during early mornings?
6. There should be a laws related to lane driving, with designated lanes for the two-wheelers
7. BRT system is a total failure, should be removed to averse repetition of such accidents

We need responsible citizenship, especially from the youth..

While some are busy blaming the government, there are a lot many others who believe targeting the designated authorities is old school. They argue execution of the laws is in the hands of the citizens, where youth should ace this culture. If responsible actions replace the callous and ignorant attitude of the youth, such incidents would be a thing of the past.

The various views expressed attached to the youth lifestyle and their attitude towards responsibility are listed below

1. It is not cool to violate rules; obeying all traffic regulations at your end is simply a step towards your own safety
2. If you violate these rules, pay your rightful penalties to develop alert toward not repeating the violated rule
3. We should learn from such accidents, and not forget them as passing news; such seriously injured or fatal incidents should serve as a source of ‘don’ts’ while on the road
4. The government cannot stop us from buying such vehicles, but it is our responsibility to use our resources and right in lawful manners
5. Such incidents is not restricted only to the rich, the youth from all spheres should abstain from speeding on the roads and not treat such means symbolic of their superiority
6. Everyone must learn that human life is precious, and somewhere the youth of today don’t treat their lives prime over their cheap thrills
7. Above the laws and enforcement, individuals needs to maintain discipline within themselves; unless responsibility becomes a taken, rules and regulations would serve no purpose

The above are some obvious statements we have heard over and over. However, for the youth of today and in the face of such events, these views need to be revisited till discipline is inculcated in the young blood.

Youth are the problem, more so the rich ones!

There are many strong arguments against the young blood of today that came forward after this tragic incident. People took the liberty of making insensitive remarks on the young man who lost his life. It is indicative of the extent of anger and resentment responsible citizens felt after reading the sad news.

Below mentioned remarks are out-rightly mean and inhuman, but the conviction with which they have been delivered sends out a message. These harsh views could be indicative of existence of a concerned society and bring many lessons to forefront.

1. “Some big vehicle drivers think they are god and don't bother to stop at red lights early morning. Such crashes are fruits of breaking rules.”
2. “It is not the governments fault, they have restricted speed for sports car to 50 kmph. The driver is to be blamed.”
3. “Speed thrills but also kills, rash driving will impress no one. Speed is a dangerous intoxication. Many have developed ego and not to give way to small segment vehicles. No education can teach such things to such people.”
4. “I really feel sorry for the young man who lost his life. I feel even more sorry for the parents of the deceased who have perhaps learnt the hard way that love does not only mean providing luxurious comforts to their loved ones but also providing them with sense of responsibility towards society and themselves.”
5. “It is a sad example of misuse of freedom available with the Generation-X. That freedom cost the family a lifetime of grief.”
6. “It's a dangerous combination: a fast car and a fool behind the steering wheel. Add to that Delhi's macho culture, and you have the perfect recipe for disaster. The government can only make so many rules, are Delhi's citizens following them? Not a chance.”
7. “The rich brats are not afraid to break the rules. They are born to challenge the system on the basis of their bank balance. When will that change!”
8. “The car was speeding and we all know how Delhiites drive at night. The road becomes a F1 track for the drunken speedsters. And its not that life will give them chance to live every time.”
9. “Even the most secure car cannot help you if you think you are immortal and forget to stick to basics. Wear the Seat Belt.”
10. “No seat belt, over-speeding, and probably under influence: Autobahn to after life. Should we feel sad at waste of such a life. For the parents maybe but Him, No way!”
11. “One thing is clear - If he was wearing a seat belt he would be alive today.”
12. “Driving on Delhi roads on 200 kmph! Only a moron can drive on this speed. It is obviously the fault of driver who was over speeding 4 times the limit.”

Yes, these views are heartless, but see the underlying message. All these people have clearly outlined the basic rules for all, the rules they want the government to enforce. It is clear from the above statements, that the citizen is aware how his life is at risk when he decides to break the law.

Viewpoints by some few were ironical, at the same time, funny. In the process of trying to side the one who wronged, they posted views against the slow moving vehicles on the road. They argued how it is the fault of those slow moving cycles and rickshaws that the car owners are punished. Someone please tell them to read about the accident where no one punished Anukool, he punished himself.

Some targeted the government and how our roads and traffic system is laid out, while some believe rules would fall on deaf years of the youth. And there is a whole section that blames the rich ones for taking law in their hands on account of their bank balance! What is your take and what are the lessons learnt?

The accident has taken focus on the rich owners of expensive cars, and majority has taken the liberty to blame them in totality. But is it just Lamborghini/BMW/Mercedes vehicles that are responsible for all the rash driving and deaths in this city? Or we have a larger problem at hand?