India has made considerable progress in upgrading its highways and scaling up the road network across the country but following basic road rules while driving is still lacking across the country. We will not progress until this behaviour changes and strict rules and laws are put in place and enforced to prevent this irresponsible behaviour. 

In 2018, while returning from work, I was crossing the road looking at the incoming traffic and a gentleman driving on the wrong side of the road on a two-wheeler came and hit me. There was absolutely no fault of mine here and I was doing what all pedestrians do, looking at the incoming traffic while crossing the road and then cross. The accident changed my life forever and I had to undergo a surgery. It took me 4 long years to heal and recover completely and while I have moved on with my life I wanted to bring this incident to light as there has been absolutely no change now or then in road safety. I still see plenty of people driving on the wrong side of the road just for their selfish own convenience and laziness to save a few minutes of their time of going ahead and taking a proper U-turn to come onto the correct side of the road.

With the increase in infrastructure projects and construction of metro lines across the country, traffic has increased and people just want to avoid following basic road rules of waiting for a proper U-turn to cross onto the other side of the road while driving. What they instead do is just start driving in the opposite direction putting their life and those of other motorists and pedestrians at risk. 

People don't like following rules in India and want to avoid following basic rules. This wonderful behaviour is exhibited only in India because the rules and law are very lenient. This doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.

How can we solve tor this?

Why can't the rules be made stricter like levying a Rs100,000 fine for first offence? For the 2nd offence, there can be permanent revocation of driving licence. In addition, we can make it a non-bailable offence with a penalty of Rs500,000 and 3 months jail-time.

Are we waiting for someone to die in a road accident before the authorities wake up?

Let's make our roads safe and motorable for drivers and pedestrians both!

Yours sincerely,
Vinod Philip
Citizen of India