Dar Raies,
A Tragic and an Eye-Opener for us The recent accidents in Kashmir have deeply shaken the region and are indeed a sobering reminder of the results of our carelessness on the roads.
Each accident not only highlights the vulnerability of individuals but also underscores the urgent need for a collective shift in attitudes toward road safety and personal responsibility.
It’s a wake-up call for us that still we have time to change our minds and make ourselves responsible. It is time to ask ourselves that we are heading to very wrong and not any other, but we have to face the results badly.
The recent accidents in Kashmir are more than just statistics; they are real lives lost or irrevocably altered. The impact is felt across families, neighborhoods, and the entire region.
The pain of losing a loved one, the trauma of seeing someone injured, and the emotional toll on friends and community members cannot be understated. These tragedies are especially difficult because they are often preventable.
Accidents caused by carelessness, whether through overspeeding, distracted driving, underage driving, or failing to adhere to basic safety rules, have far-reaching consequences. They don’t just impact the driver or passengers involved but also affecting families, friends, and communities. In a region like Kashmir, where relationships are close knit and the impact of any tragedy is felt deeply, the emotional and social toll is even more profound.
Acknowledging that carelessness is at the root of many accidents is an important step toward change. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine of life, especially when we feel a sense of invincibility or are in a hurry. But, as recent accidents have shown, every careless decision we make on the road has consequences. Common Forms of Carelessness We Must Addres Overspeeding.
Many drivers push the limits of speed, especially on open roads, thinking they can handle the vehicle. However, Kashmir’s mountainous roads, with sharp bends, blind spots, and unpredictable weather, require careful and cautious driving at all times. Speeding leads to a higher risk of losing control, skidding, and fatal accidents.
Distracted Driving: In the age of smartphones, many drivers fail to realize how dangerous it is to look at a phone or engage in other distractions while behind the wheel. It only takes a moment of inattention for a tragedy to occur. Underage Driving: Allowing young people to drive before they are legally allowed to, or letting them take a vehicle without proper experience or maturity, is a dangerous and irresponsible act. The recent tragedies remind us that we cannot afford to be careless any longer.
It’s easy to point fingers at poor infrastructure, weather conditions, or external factors, but the reality is that many accidents happen because of human error because we didn’t take the necessary precautions or we acted impulsively. This is an opportunity for us as a society to reevaluate our relationship with road safety, both as individuals and as a community. We must realize that road safety is a shared responsibility.
It’s not just about following the law; it’s about valuing life, being mindful of others, and understanding that the choices we make on the road can have far-reaching consequences. Careless driving is one of the leading causes of road accidents globally. This includes a range of behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, failing to obey traffic signals, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. These actions put not only the driver at risk but also passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. The other important issue is underage driving. Underage driving is a growing concern in many parts of the world, including Kashmir. Young people, especially teenagers, often lack the maturity, experience, and judgment necessary to drive safely. Despite the legal driving age being 18 in India, underage drivers are often seen on the roads, sometimes with or without parental consent. Factors Contributing to Underage Driving: Access to Vehicles: In some cases, teenagers have easy access to family vehicles and may take them out without the knowledge of their parents. Sometimes, peer pressure or the desire to show off leads to risky driving behaviors.
Inexperience: Young drivers often lack the driving experience necessary to navigate difficult or hazardous road conditions, such as those found in Kashmir’s mountainous terrain. Their inexperience makes them more likely to make poor decisions, such as speeding or misjudging distances. Peer Influence: Peer pressure can be a significant factor, where young drivers take risks or drive recklessly to impress their friends or to fit in with a group. Lack of Maturity: Teenagers often don’t fully understand the gravity of driving. The thrill of driving, combined with immaturity, may lead them to take unnecessary risks like speeding, aggressive overtaking, or driving without seatbelts. Overconfidence: Teenagers often overestimate their abilities and may feel invincible behind the wheel, leading to reckless driving. This is compounded by a tendency to engage in riskier behavior, such as street racing or driving at night without proper experience. Traffic accidents in Kashmir have reached alarming levels, highlighting the urgent need for improved road safety measures. In 2024: From January to November 2024, Jammu and Kashmir reported 4,457 road accidents, leading to approx. 650 deaths and almost 6150 injuries. On average, over 16 accidents occurred daily. The Kashmir region alone recorded 1,722 accidents and 240 fatalities. Srinagar and Jammu districts are the most affected. Srinagar reported 362 accidents with 36 fatalities, while Jammu recorded 807 accidents and 96 deaths during the same period. In the past 15 years, vehicle ownership has grown by over 300%, outpacing road infrastructure development. May 2024 witnessed the highest number of accidents and fatalities, with 597 accidents leading to 98 deaths. Seasonal factors and increased travel during this period may contribute to the spike. In the first half of 2024 alone, road accidents claimed 417 lives and injured nearly 3,900 people across Jammu and Kashmir. Factors contributing to the high accident rates include overspeeding, poor road infrastructure, and the carelessness of parents.
A growing vehicle population, rising from 700,000 in 2008 to over 2.4 million in 2024, has further strained the region’s limited road infrastructure. Recent road accidents in Kashmir On November 14, 2024, two teenage students were killed in a road accident in Srinagar, sparking a public outcry over underage driving. Authorities have urged parents to prevent minors from driving, with legal provisions like Section 199A proposed to hold negligent guardians accountable. On the same day, an 8-year-old girl lost her life when a speeding tipper hit her while she was on her way to school in Boniyar, Baramulla.
In another tragic incident on the same day, a middle-aged man riding a scooter was killed after being struck by a speeding vehicle near Zafron Colony in Srinagar.
Steps to Address Underage Driving:
1. Strict Enforcement of Laws: Regular checks and penalties for underage drivers and their guardians. Seizing vehicles driven by minors.
2. Awareness Campaigns: educating parents and minors about the dangers and legal consequences of underage driving through schools, social media, and community events.
3. Parental Responsibility: encouraging parents to avoid handing over vehicles to minors, even under pressure.
4. School-Level Programs: Including road safety and traffic rules in school curriculums to promote responsible behavior from a young age.
5. Better Licensing Process: Strengthening the process for obtaining a driving license to ensure no minor gets one fraudulently.
6. Community Involvement: Engaging local communities and influencers in rural areas to address cultural acceptance of underage driving. Addressing underage driving in Kashmir requires collective efforts from families, law enforcement, and society to create safer roads and a more aware population.
