Dreams shattered on roads?

IT WAS a fine morning and Supriya was woken gently by the first rays of the winter sun in her room in a posh locality in Chennai. The dawn of a new day filled her spirit with wonder and great joy. She stood for a few moments at the window, savouring the morning breeze and then got ready to go to her computer class, not far from her home. She left home around 9.30 a.m. that Tuesday morning, on her moped for the class at 10 a.m. Being an evening college student doing B.B.A., these timings were perfect for her. In fact life seemed perfect to her, for she was doing what she enjoyed doing, had many friends who made life pleasant and indulgent parents who shared her dreams of a wonderful future.

Stopping for a red light at one of the signals at Chetput on her way to the computer class, she was quite relaxed and it did not occur to her that any vehicle on the road could pose a threat to her. Unfortunately, the driver of a lorry coming in the opposite direction was in a hurry and decided to jump signals. When Supriya moved forward as the green signal came on, the lorry hit her straight, and as she fell, it ran over her. What a way to die!

Sadly, this is a daily occurrence on Chennai's roads. Many fall prey to this kind of rash and thoughtless driving. The heavy vehicles especially, the city buses and lorries, are the ones causing maximum damage.

The most horrifying part of such episodes is that a life is lost, in this instance a young life, full of potential. What is being done to try and stop such accidents? Unfortunately, very little and that too very insignificant. There are laws regulating the movement of heavy vehicles, with State and National permit, to reduce the menace on city roads. The fact is that laws exist only on paper and are not put into action. The number of people succumbing to such accidents is in the meanwhile on the increase. Of course, there is also another side to this issue. There are quite a few youngsters who think they are immortal and drive on city roads with abandon, being very rash and fast. They too become the cause of a number of young deaths in the city. What can be done to make them realise that they are risking their own and others' lives by their supposedly daredevil speed? That one split second may end their life but leave a lifetime of sorrow to their parents, who will remain inconsolable, with nothing more than shattered dreams and plans for the future. Here is an appeal to all the concerned parties: Be careful, youngsters, and do not leave your parents behind to grieve for you. Rash drivers, please remember that you cannot decide people's destinies. Municipal authorities, let the public see some action taken against the menace caused by uncaring and careless drivers so that what happened to Supriya does not happen to anyone. Let the deathtraps that our roads have become, be transformed into safe avenues for a glorious future.

VASUPRADA IYENGAR

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