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• 30 Mar 2026

It’s The Driving Sense That Can Save Lives…!

The real test of driving sense is not in how expertly we handle the vehicle, but in how deeply we respect the lives around us

ER BASIT ZAFFAR   Our roads are a paradox. We boast of worldclass expressways, soaring flyovers and ambitious highway projects, yet we continue to lose lives on a scale that would be treated as a national emergency in many countries. The issue is not merely one of infrastructure or enforcement. At its core, our road safety crisis is a crisis of driving sense – of attitude, culture and everyday behaviour behind the wheel.   According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ 2024 report, India recorded over 4.8 lakh road accidents and nearly 1.77 lakh deaths in a single year. That works out to almost 19 deaths every hour. The World Health Organisation estimates that India alone accounts for about 13% of global road fatalities, despite having only about 1% of the world’s vehicles. These are not just numbers; they are stories of families shattered, futures cut short, and communities left grieving.   It is convenient to blame bad roads, poor lighting or slow ambulances. But when we look closely at the data, a different picture emerges. Official figures attribute the majority of accidents to human error: overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, distraction due to mobile phones and failure to use helmets or seat belts. In other words, much of the blood on our roads can be traced back to everyday choices made by ordinary drivers like you and me.   Take overspeeding. Government data suggests it is responsible for well over half of all road accident deaths in recent years. Yet our social attitude to speed is disturbingly casual. A fast driver is often admired as “daring” or “skilful”, while a cautious one is mocked as timid. Speed limits are viewed as suggestions rather than rules. In many cities, it is common to see cars racing between traffic signals, only to be halted again a few hundred metres ahead. The time saved is negligible; the risk imposed on pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists is immense.   Similarly, drunk driving is treated far too lightly. Despite stricter penalties under the amended Motor Vehicles Act, enforcement remains patchy and social stigma is weak. It is still not unusual to attend a latenight gathering where guests cheerfully accept drinks and then casually drive home. Each such journey is a gamble not only with the driver’s life, but

with the lives of strangers who happened to choose the same road at the same time.   Another quiet killer is the refusal to wear helmets and seat belts. The data is stark: wearing a good-quality helmet can reduce the risk of death for twowheeler riders by around 40%, and seat belts significantly cut fatalities and serious injuries in car crashes. Yet compliance is abysmal. Riders often fasten the helmet loosely or place it on the handlebars to satisfy traffic police from a distance. Many rearseat passengers in cars do not even know that wearing a belt is mandatory. For them, safety features are seen as accessories rather than essential tools for survival.   What underlies this disregard? At one level, it is a governance issue. Enforcement is inconsistent, fines are sometimes negotiated away on the roadside, and road design in many places is confusing or hostile to pedestrians. But at a deeper level, it is about how we value human life in everyday practice. We protest loudly when a major accident makes headlines, but look away when we jump a red light at an empty intersection, drive on the wrong side to save five minutes, or block a pedestrian crossing because we are in a hurry.   Driving sense is shaped long before a person gets a licence. Children watch adults squeeze three people on a scooter, answer phone calls while driving, or hurl abuse at traffic policemen. They learn that rules are flexible, that the clever person is the one who “manages” the system, not the one who follows it. By the time they are old enough to drive, this attitude is deeply ingrained.   Changing this will require more than periodic awareness campaigns. We need to treat driving as a serious civic responsibility, not just a skill. Licensing tests must be more rigorous, focusing not only on basic vehicle control but also on lane discipline, defensive driving and emergency behaviour. At present, many new drivers pass their tests without ever merging into fastmoving traffic, changing lanes correctly, or navigating a roundabout the way it is intended to be used.   Equally important is education in schools. Road safety should not be limited to a single chapter in a textbook; it should be woven into practical activities and discussions. Children should learn why a helmet

matters, how reaction time is affected by speed, and what it means to share the road respectfully with others. In many developed countries, exposure to road safety concepts begins early, and it shows in the way people behave as pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.   Technology can help, but only to a point. Speed cameras, dashboard cameras, better lighting and intelligent traffic systems are all useful. Ridehailing platforms and logistics companies are beginning to use telematics to monitor driver behaviour and reward safe driving. But gadgets cannot compensate for an underlying culture that treats rules as obstacles. The most advanced car is still only as safe as the person behind the wheel.   There is also a strong case for linking driving behaviour to personal accountability in more visible ways. Insurance premiums that reflect a history of violations, stricter suspension of licences for repeat offenders, and public disclosure of safety ratings for bus operators and transport companies can all create pressure for better conduct. At the same time, we must ensure that enforcement is evenhanded and free from corruption; otherwise, it only deepens cynicism.   Ultimately, improving driving sense is not about making life harder for motorists. It is about recognising that our roads are shared spaces, where every reckless decision can destroy a stranger’s family. If our country can send missions to the Moon and build worldclass digital infrastructure, it can certainly aspire to cut its road fatalities dramatically. Several countries have done so in recent decades by combining stricter laws, better road design and, crucially, sustained campaigns to change social attitudes.   India does not lack rules. What we lack is a collective conviction that those rules exist to protect lives, not to inconvenience us. Every time we choose to slow down, to wait for the pedestrian to cross, to put on a helmet for a short trip, or to hand over the car keys after drinking, we are quietly affirming that conviction.   The real test of driving sense is not in how expertly we handle the vehicle, but in how deeply we respect the lives around us. Until that respect becomes instinctive, our headlines will continue to be filled with avoidable tragedies. The choice, quite literally, is in our hands every time we start the engine.     (Author is a Road Safety Expert and columnist)