Today evening as I drove back home in my car, I witnessed an accident – not a terrible one but definitely a scary one. As I was nearing a signal in Mount Road near Whites Road, I saw a Tata Safari sped past me, overtaking a few other cars in front of me, trying to take a u-turn at the signal. However, before the car could do that the signal changed to orange and then red in a fraction of a second. Mind you, there was ample time for the Safari’s driver to stop and wait for the signal to turn green.
In a hurry to make the u-turn, the driver did not see a cyclist who was in front of the traffic. At the last moment, the driver applied brakes and hit him from behind. He and his cycle was thrown into the oncoming traffic. Luckily, some the car drivers in the opposite direction witnessed this and avoided hitting the cyclist.
There was a bit of commotion at first, as I could not see the cyclist. I presumed the worst. However, thankfully, the cyclist came from under the car and was mad as hell. It seems strange, but I could only imagine that the cyclist fell down with half of his body under the front bumper. I immediately looked around for a cop, hoping that the driver would get fined (at the least!).
Unfortunately (and fortunately for the driver) no one was around. The cyclist by this time gathered his cycle and started shouting at the Safari driver. When the tinted windows of the car rolled down, I could see the guy who drove such erratically. He was in his early twenties and was arguing that it was his mistake that he came and stood in the front! I just couldn’t believe my eyes and ears! Here is a guy who ran down another human being and almost killed him, standing there and arguing that nothing happened and that it was ‘partially’ his fault too!
It was cyclist’s luckiest day. Had the oncoming traffic had not been alert, he would have definitely run over! In a sense, it was lucky for the Safari driver too I suppose. As soon as the signal changed, the traffic started flowing normally. I took my usual right and went a bit farther and stopped to see the car driver and the cyclist pulling over near the curb and continuing their discussion (read as argument) as to who has the right of way!
I didn’t stay much longer and thanking God that nothing happened, I drove off. I could only imagine that the driver of the Safari paid him some money and then took off.
As more and more cars are being bought, the plight of today’s traffic condition is getting worse. Despite putting several new signals and timers to help the drivers take proper decision while reaching the signal, such incidents keep happening.
Rarely do we see someone getting arrested for rash driving or the victim getting any compensation for the injuries. Even if it does happen, they go scot free! Its our attitude that is the root cause of all sufferings. We always assume that it is okay to cut the guy to the right/left of us, we assume its okay to honk the hell out of the guy who is properly waiting for the signal to turn green, we assume its okay to drive fast within city without considering that there are others who use the road. But its NOT!
People! Please pay attention to how you drive! It might save other lives!
I came across this video in YouTube, which I think it speaks my mind about that driver!
No related posts.
