Traffic laws are an essential part of Indian law. These laws are meant to safeguard humans from any potential threats on the road. The importance of traffic laws is that, when abided by, they save thousands of lives. Small 1% changes, like wearing a seatbelt and not texting while driving, are what make a real impact on the roads. First and foremost, a driver is a person raised by a family, with responsibilities and duties to fulfil. Life is not just a thrill behind the wheel; it is a serious matter of accountability. Rash driving may provide a temporary thrill, but it carries a high risk of costing a precious life.
Minute distractions can snowball into massive disasters. Replying to a friend’s text can result in paralysis or DEATH. One of the biggest causes of road mishaps is juvenile driving. Juvenile driving refers to underage individuals driving vehicles before reaching the legal age or without a valid license. Juvenile driving is single-handedly the biggest cause of death on roads in India. In a report issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), minors were responsible for 1,200 road crashes in a single year, an average of 16 crashes per day. In 2024, India recorded 177,000 road accident deaths, which means 485 people die each day due to accidents.
Prevention
Preventing accidents can be easy if the laws are followed, but not everybody abides by them. So, what can be done to better implement these laws?
- Enacting stringent laws that punish even the slightest offenses.
- Organizing awareness programs through communication, education, and campaigns.
- Ensuring the strict enforcement of laws.
Some Recent Events
- The father of my father’s colleague died while crossing the road. A car ran over him because the driver was on the phone and couldn’t apply the brakes in time.
- A couple from Shopian fell into a gorge more than 400 feet deep in their car while speeding on the Charar-i-Sherief road.