On a road that has houses on one side and shops on the other, you turn into a street full of showrooms. You open a glass door to a heaven of watches. The man behind the counter asks you what is the most important thing that you are carrying right now and you give a glance to the gift from your father on your wrist. He goes ahead and asks you, “Would you trade it for a diamond-studded watch?” You take no time to say “NO“. Why? Because you know its worth.
You go ahead to another door and your eyes meet another strange man with another strange question asking you if you would give away your eyes for a showroom of light fixtures, and you think, “Why would I? Wouldn’t I need my eyes to admire the twinkling, colourful lights?” You again blurt out “No“; you know why, because you know without your eyes these things would be of no value to you. Thinking about whether this day could get any more bizarre, you enter another door where a woman asks you, “Would you give or take someone’s life for a promotion at work?” You yell at her, “How could you ask me that!?” You know the value of someone’s life.
Then I ask you why, on the road in front of you, do you not think the same?
Why do you plug in your earphones while driving?
Why do you jump red lights?
Why do you over-speed?
Why do you always wear a helmet only in those areas where you could be penalised?
Why do you drink and drive?
Why do you send that text only while driving?
Why do you do all the things that could incur irreversible damage to you, your loved ones, and any of the million precious lives walking down the road?
We have all become victims of such irresponsible behaviour. I remember when I bought my first earphones, the first instruction that I was given was not to use it on road ,and I told my father “I am not stupid enough to jump in front of a car!” My father said people are not stupid, but they do stupid things, don’t they? And that felt exactly right.
I wonder about the guy who was going to give his exams and trespassing the restricted area of railway track to reach his exam center, when the train took him away. Didn’t he have dreams, hopes, and the will to live, as much as you and I do? He did, he really did. But the thought of arriving early at his destination took over his rationality.
Therefore one needs to know that arriving late might not be that big of a problem, but not arriving at all is.
According to statistics, approximately 1,40,00 people are killed each year in traffic accidents. Things will only worsen, despite road safety drives and programs, if we don’t realise, consciously, what we already know about being safe on the road, and making it safe for others.
Make sure the next time you step out of your house, you realise the value of all the things required for your safety, and implement your knowledge.
Stay safe and take care!
Featured Image source: Flickr.
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