Can you imagine that in the mid part of
last century, Cars were great luxury ~ only the richest in the Society owned
cars…….. Taxies were there – but were costly – not all engaged them… till mid
1990s, a cell phone [a mobile] was unknown….. first pagers came, then came the
mobiles ~ initially one had to pay for all calls –both incoming and outgoing ~
and it was too costly. Now there are more cars on city roads, leaving no place
for moving ~ and people keep talking all the time, irrespective whether they
are at work, on the road – walking, driving or…..
When you have some work outside – be it
official or personal – attending a function or visiting a known person, we book
a cab or a call-taxi. The cab driver
generally takes a de-tour to reach their usual petrol-bunk to fill petrol [or
diesel]. They never find time to do that
before reaching you……….. more importantly, from the moment you get in, the
driver is on the ‘mobile’ – nay, not moving, but speaking on his cell phone ~
with his owner, with the service provider, his friends, his spouse, children,
asking others as to ‘where they are and more’
How many firmly instruct the driver
to first complete the talk and then drive and ‘not to take calls’ while driving…
it is another matter, that most parents would find it offending when the school
van driver speaks on mobile phone stating that it imperils their children who
are inside the van; but the same parents would call the same driver to find his
whereabouts asking him to wait for sometime, as their kids are getting readied
and could possibly delay – all other users….
Fortunate that Indians are
talkative and keep talking on the phone all the time ~ the drivers and others
[generally speaking] are not given to the habit of texting ~ i.e., sending
messages from the equipment when driving. In foreign countries, things are somewhat
different as most are inclined to text…. [while driving too]
Daily Mail has this report that ‘Professional
drivers are the worst text offenders’ that pople who drive for their job take
more risks behind the wheel. The report
states that people who drive as part of their job are more likely to endanger
lives by taking risks behind the wheel, a survey shows. Nearly a third (31 per
cent) write and send texts while driving, while grooming, including applying
make-up or shaving. More than three-quarters speed at over 35mph in built up
areas, according to the survey for road safety pressure group Brake and
insurers Direct Line.
Nearly a third of journeys on Britain ’s roads
are made by drivers who are working, according to official statistics. They are
up to 40 per cent more likely to be in a crash than people driving in their own
time. Ten Britons are killed and 100 injured each week by people driving for
work. Researchers found that people
driving for business purposes are more likely than the general driving
population to take such risks, prompting calls for employers to take action to
ensure their workers are safe and not putting others in danger.
Road safety pressure group Brake and
insurers Direct Line conducted two surveys, one of 532 at-work motorists into
distractions while driving, and one of 703 at-work drivers into speed. Julie
Townsend, Brake deputy chief executive, said: ‘It is appalling so many people
who drive in a professional capacity are taking such horrendous and unnecessary
risks, doing things we all know are unbelievably dangerous behind the wheel.
‘We
are urging all employers to ensure they have comprehensive safe driving
policies in place and that staff know the importance of not speeding or driving
distracted. We are also calling on anyone who drives for work to make a
commitment to stay within speed limits, stay off the phone, and focused on the
critical task at hand.’ Direct Line spokesman Matt Owen said: ‘Whether it’s
over-confidence as they are heavy road users, work pressures or to save time,
the risks they are taking with their lives and the lives of others is
substantial.
Michael Bird, whose wife Elizabeth was killed by a speeding truck
driver, called on everyone who drives for work to make sure they stay well
within speed limits and keep their full attention on the road. In July 2010 Mr
Bird and his 52-year-old wife were on their way to the Norfolk coast for a well deserved holiday.
They and the rest of the traffic were slowing down to avoid a hazard in the
left hand lane of a dual carriageway when a heavy goods lorry smashed into
their car from behind. The speed limit for the vehicle was 50mph, but the
driver of the lorry, Simon Bothamley, was later found to have been driving at
56mph when he crashed into their vehicle. Mrs Bird was killed instantly. The
lorry continued to smash into two more vehicles before the brakes were finally
applied.
Norwich Crown Court sentenced Bothamley to
six years for causing death by dangerous driving. One PC described the scene as
‘utter carnage and devastation’ involving five other cars apart from the
Birds’. Mr Bird said: ‘Our loss is going to be felt by everyone who knew her
for she was loved by all; a more generous, warm, caring, lively, energetic
person we will rarely know. ‘So my plea
to everyone out there is please stay well within speed limits and pay attention
whilst driving. If you don’t, it can lead to fatal accidents and perhaps long
prison sentences. ‘I really hope the driver is able to face the consequences of
his actions, which led to such a tragic event and the loss of dearest Liz.’
So next time, you hire a car, first tell the
driver politely that you would not like to be imperiled with his habit of
talking while driving…. and if you drive
all by yourself, do what you tell others, never talk or text while driving.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
Photo and news on the latter part courtesy
: www.dailymail.co.uk
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