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Fixing India’s Deadly Roads Fixing India’s Deadly Roads
(3 months later)
NEW DELHI — It often appears that Indian roads are meant for politicians and, since there are not many of those, others get to drive on them, too. NEW DELHI — It often appears that Indian roads are meant for politicians and, since there are not many of those, others get to drive on them, too.
The police turn agile when they get wind of an approaching politician and they shoo away the lesser vehicles, or the burly sidekicks in the convoy do the job. Sometimes the traffic parts or halts altogether to let a leader pass.The police turn agile when they get wind of an approaching politician and they shoo away the lesser vehicles, or the burly sidekicks in the convoy do the job. Sometimes the traffic parts or halts altogether to let a leader pass.
Yet Indian roads are so deadly that even politicians are not entirely safe.Yet Indian roads are so deadly that even politicians are not entirely safe.
Early on the morning of June 3, the Indian minister of rural development, Gopinath Munde, died after his vehicle, which even had a red beacon on it, was hit by a car. He was in the rear seat and, according to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, he might have survived had he been wearing a seat belt. It is unusual for Indians in the rear seat to wear a belt, even more so to learn from the health minister that it is advisable. That they wear seat belts at all is a recent phenomenon resulting from the traffic police persistently asking for bribes from those who are not so secured. Early on the morning of June 3, the Indian minister of rural development, Gopinath Munde, died after his vehicle, which even had a red beacon on it, was hit by a car. He was in the rear seat and, according to Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, he might have survived had he been wearing a seat belt. It is unusual for Indians in the rear seat to wear a belt, even more so to learn from the health minister that it is advisable. That they wear seat belts at all is a recent phenomenon resulting from the traffic police persistently asking for bribes from those who are not so secured.
It was not the first time that Mr. Munde had met with a road accident while traveling in a car that had a red beacon on it. India’s privileged take great care to protect themselves from the many adversities of the nation, but they cannot escape its roads. Several politicians have died in road accidents, including a former president.It was not the first time that Mr. Munde had met with a road accident while traveling in a car that had a red beacon on it. India’s privileged take great care to protect themselves from the many adversities of the nation, but they cannot escape its roads. Several politicians have died in road accidents, including a former president.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, nearly 140,000 people died in road accidents in India in 2012. The World Health Organization estimates that the actual figure is higher by about 100,000. What is not disputed, though, is that Indian roads are among the most dangerous places on earth. A 10-hour drive through the nation would show a toppled truck here, a smashed car there and a crowd somewhere else shrouding an aftermath.According to the National Crime Records Bureau, nearly 140,000 people died in road accidents in India in 2012. The World Health Organization estimates that the actual figure is higher by about 100,000. What is not disputed, though, is that Indian roads are among the most dangerous places on earth. A 10-hour drive through the nation would show a toppled truck here, a smashed car there and a crowd somewhere else shrouding an aftermath.
Driving in India is somewhat like a video game. Mitsuhiko Yamashita, a director of Nissan Motor, once said when I asked him how the Indian driving experience could be improved, “First, separate the humans, the cars and the cattle, please.”Driving in India is somewhat like a video game. Mitsuhiko Yamashita, a director of Nissan Motor, once said when I asked him how the Indian driving experience could be improved, “First, separate the humans, the cars and the cattle, please.”
Not so easy, though. That Indians drive on the left is not an absolute truth, but a high probability. And just because the government has drawn white lines on the roads, it does not mean that drivers recognize lanes. Whole families, with two adults and their family-planned two kids, travel on scooters. Then there are trucks with iron rods jutting out, which on occasion impale the windshields of cars. And there are plenty of drunken drivers.Not so easy, though. That Indians drive on the left is not an absolute truth, but a high probability. And just because the government has drawn white lines on the roads, it does not mean that drivers recognize lanes. Whole families, with two adults and their family-planned two kids, travel on scooters. Then there are trucks with iron rods jutting out, which on occasion impale the windshields of cars. And there are plenty of drunken drivers.
On Monday, when the new government laid out its aspirations, among them was the wish to promote India to the world as a modern, respectable brand. It may have to start with the roads. Nations in plain sight often look better than they really are, but the Indian road lays bare the secrets of the republic. It reveals a nation where there is an overt conflict between law and enforcement, and a triumph of informality over order.On Monday, when the new government laid out its aspirations, among them was the wish to promote India to the world as a modern, respectable brand. It may have to start with the roads. Nations in plain sight often look better than they really are, but the Indian road lays bare the secrets of the republic. It reveals a nation where there is an overt conflict between law and enforcement, and a triumph of informality over order.
It is not easy to cure the way of the people, but there are areas where the government has enforced the law effectively, transforming old habits.It is not easy to cure the way of the people, but there are areas where the government has enforced the law effectively, transforming old habits.
Taxation, for instance. Although India’s tax collection is not flawless, it has vastly improved over the years, and the government has managed to instill the fear of the law in the citizen and the corporation. Also, in a country whose people spit and urinate just about anywhere, the Delhi Metro rail system is an extraordinary achievement. Through a string of practical measures and high quality service, it has ensured that it is an island republic of cleanliness and order.Taxation, for instance. Although India’s tax collection is not flawless, it has vastly improved over the years, and the government has managed to instill the fear of the law in the citizen and the corporation. Also, in a country whose people spit and urinate just about anywhere, the Delhi Metro rail system is an extraordinary achievement. Through a string of practical measures and high quality service, it has ensured that it is an island republic of cleanliness and order.
But on Indian roads, the government looks like a joke. Its most obvious face, the police, hide in corners like muggers to pounce on erring motorists and extract whatever they can. They ambush drunken drivers, too, but only a fraction of the drunks go to prison. Most pay a bribe and in fact drive away.But on Indian roads, the government looks like a joke. Its most obvious face, the police, hide in corners like muggers to pounce on erring motorists and extract whatever they can. They ambush drunken drivers, too, but only a fraction of the drunks go to prison. Most pay a bribe and in fact drive away.
And, in the end, when Indians meet with an accident, they exhibit an emotion that is bizarre considering how they drive — they are startled.And, in the end, when Indians meet with an accident, they exhibit an emotion that is bizarre considering how they drive — they are startled.
Manu Joseph is author of the novel “The Illicit Happiness of Other People.”Manu Joseph is author of the novel “The Illicit Happiness of Other People.”