Inputs on road safety for all : Responsibility of all
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 09, 2023 -

This is the first time that The Sangai Express is doing it and as the saying goes, there has to be a first time.

For the first time The Sangai Express is urging all the readers and subscribers to seriously go through the article that is being carried along side this commentary and digest it.

Take it one or two steps ahead and encourage the other family members, especially the young adults of the family to thoroughly go through this article- Alert today - Alive tomorrow : Prevention of road traffic accidents written by a certain Malem Elangbam.

More than sure that this would be handy for everyone, for road accidents have taken a heavy toll on numerous families. The timing could not have been more appropriate.

Like the rest of the world, Manipur has just stepped into 2023 and perhaps this is the best New Year's gift or present one many receive for it could mean waking up to the ugly reality that is being witnessed everyday on the streets and roads of Imphal and in other towns of the State.

It is also timely having come just as Manipur has come to grips with the Noney disaster of December 21, 2022 wherein 9 people including 7 young students were killed.

This was followed by the January 2 tragedy in which a father and his two minor daughters were killed when the car they were travelling in plunged into a roadside pond at Samurou on Mayai Lambi under Wangoi police station.

These two incidents are the examples that come to mind immediately but there have been many other cases of road mishaps, all in Manipur, which had claimed precious human lives.

With banks and auto makers more than willing, the number of vehicles on the roads of Manipur has sharply increased over the years and so has the number of road accidents.

Driving through the roads of Imphal is today no longer a pleasant experience and many would go to the extent of saying that it is more a nightmare.

And the most disturbing part is, the traffic chaos that one sees on the road of Imphal and the other district headquarters is more due to the lack of driving discipline amongst the drivers than anything else.

Not the first time that The Sangai Express has touched on this subject and this wouldn't be the last either.

Over taking from the left is not something new and anyone who has driven through the roads of Imphal would have experienced the horror of some bravado speedily over taking from the left while blowing the horn incessantly.

Going beyond the zebra crossing when the traffic light clearly says stop with a Red and leaving lesser room for the vehicles coming from the opposite direction are all daily experiences and here is a perfect example of how traffic rules and regulations are being tossed around at the fancy and whims of some self centred individuals.

The people need to break from the shackles of the mindset that driving is just about kicking or igniting the engine into life, pull or kick the clutch, put the vehicle into gear and then put the vehicle into motion.

Driving entails much more than this and this should also entail the sense of knowing and understanding where, how and when to park.

This is not to talk of knowing or understanding when to use the horn.

All these points which come with the understanding of taking the wheel are clobbered for a big six if one just takes a look at the roads of Imphal on any given day.

The Government and the Transport Department has already cracked the whip and laid down the rules and regulations for all school vans and buses carrying school students.

One hopes the numerous private schools also reciprocate and lay down certain rules and regulations for their school buses and the school vans which transport their students.

As the article here has suggested, the Government may seriously study the feasibility of coming out with catchy slogans to drive home the point that safe driving is for the benefits of everyone.

It is this type of write ups and articles that The Sangai Express would be more than happy to carry and one hopes this catches up and others too may chip in with their suggestions on any public issue which can be of benefit to all.