Minister Gadkari Says “Shame Guardians Whose Kids Drive/Ride Recklessly”
Over the last few years, the number of drivers involved in reckless driving has increased significantly. Taking note of this problem, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, recently made a significant statement. He has urged the public to “name and shame” the guardians of individuals who engage in such reckless driving. He highlighted this after the number of reckless driving cases and accidents on public roads increased.
Gadkari’s Bold Statement
While speaking at the sixth edition of the FICCI Road Safety Awards and Conclave 2024, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and accountability. There is growing frustration with the continued disregard for road safety regulations, despite the implementation of strict fines.
When Gadkari was asked to speak on the issue of reckless driving, he highlighted that, despite significant increases in fines for traffic offenses, many individuals still show a blatant disregard for the law.
He stated, “Despite steep hikes in fines for traffic offenses, people are breaking the rules. We have little respect for rules and no fear of violating them.” Gadkari also argued that part of the problem lies with the guardians who allow such behavior to continue unchecked.
Because of this increasing issue, he has suggested a unique solution. According to Gadkari, people should publicly name and shame these guardians. It is believed that such a consequence can create fear among young drivers who generally engage in reckless driving and cause deadly accidents.
Road Accidents on the Rise
During the event, Gadkari highlighted the broader concern over societal attitudes towards road safety. He stated that this must change if India is to reduce its high rates of road traffic fatalities.
Gadkari also mentioned that road accidents in India claim more lives each year than wars, insurgencies, and communal violence combined. He stated that approximately 5,00,000 accidents result in 1,50,000 deaths and 3,00,000 injuries each year, which is very alarming.
Focus on Road Safety
Apart from shaming the guardians of reckless drivers, Gadkari also stated that there needs to be a culture of accountability and responsibility among drivers. By holding guardians accountable, Gadkari believes that a deterrent effect could discourage negligent driving habits from forming in the first place.
Need for New Highway Medians
In addition to the reckless driving issue and enforcement of traffic rules, Gadkari announced plans to introduce new designs for highway medians or dividers that are more difficult to bypass. These designs are intended to prevent dangerous behaviors, such as crossing medians inappropriately.
This is one of the problems that contribute to many road accidents. The ministry is also focused on constructing additional foot over bridges in urban areas. The special part about them will be that they will have ramps to accommodate two-wheelers.
Will Naming and Shaming Work in India?
Generally, people in India live under societal pressure, where anything bad done by a family member gets highlighted. So, Nitin Gadkari’s idea of naming and shaming the guardians of individuals who engage in reckless driving could be a good solution.
The pressure of a guardian’s name getting tarnished could make young drivers drive more carefully. However, it should be noted that the public’s memory is often very short. So, naming and shaming might work for a few days, but people might still continue to engage in reckless driving.
The ideal solution would be to create an environment where people do not involve themselves in reckless driving inspired by movies and adrenaline rushes. There is a need to provide proper education that can help young drivers develop good driving habits.