By - Dr. Asangba Tzudir
The audacity to drive in the wrong lane and even park not just in no parking zones but even right in the footpath is testament enough that there is something very wrong about the civic sense. What is more appalling is the mentality of unwillingness to admit one’s mistake.
Within such a mentality and which is not a stray case, how can measures of road safety fall in place. No amount of media doing their watchdog duty nor the law enforcers will find it easy to control or even educate violators.
When the general public is not aware about safety rules, or knowingly ignores, or not even willing to admit their mistake, then safety measure becomes a grave concern. It not only endangers the person violating safety norms and other rules but also endangers others by putting others life at risk. One’s safe driving ensures another’s safety, while someone’s reckless driving or violating road safety norms also puts others life in danger besides the other inconveniences caused.
Though Road accidents in Nagaland especially in the commercial hub Dimapur has reduced to a certain extent, road accidents continue to happen because of various reasons like drunken driving, over speeding, distractions like talking over phone while driving, avoiding safety gears like seat belts and helmets, non-adherence to lane driving and wrong lane overtaking, and so on.
Strict enforcement of rules is necessary to put deterrence on defaulters. Having said that, it is also important to ensure that speed limits are kept in check, and also that cameras are installed especially in the red light areas. If preventive and safety measures are violated, the way out is to impose fines as per the legal specifications, not just once in a blue moon but regularly. Medical emergency response team and other rescue services needs to be in place, but most importantly highway patrolling is required.
However, when it comes to civic sensibilities, it is not about following the rules because of fines imposed but civic sensibility as a golden mean where one is bound by duty as a moral obligation for the safety of everyone. For instance, a ‘driving license’ gives one the right to drive on roads, but it is about having the right character, a temperament. It takes years to develop such a character, temperament and patience which is really tested when there is heavy traffic, or construction materials placed by the roadside, wrong parking, overtaking one’s vehicle, unnecessary honking from behind, etc. Further, it also calls for responsible driving, that one cannot afford to have distractions, one dangerous distraction being mobile phones.
On the whole, it is not the case that rules are not understood, but humans have failed to understand the importance of civic sense. And in order to develop the right civic sense, an attitudinal change is much desirable.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir writes a weekly guest editorial for the Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com).
