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Role and Life Of A Good Samaritan.
Friends,
I through my article would like sensitize the normal fellow motorists who travel day in day out and encounter problems and mishaps on the roads. At times it is unfortunate that we ourselves get into the situation where in not everything is in our control and that’s where the ‘Good Samaritan’ comes in the picture. There are many accidents on daily basis on our roads and due to various reasons our temperament towards the slightest of the nudge and bump on our cars/bikes by others has drastically changed in today’s time.
In the time when you are stuck on the road due to a mishap by someone’s fault then try and appreciate if the driver at fault owns up and apologizes to his/her mistake instead of getting involved in verbal and physical overtures.
I for the past 2 days had been hearing about the Good Samaritan’s life on Delhi’s roads through some Radio channels and I was really shocked to hear some of the incidents narrated by those who came up to help the person who was affected. The affected party behaved totally in an insane manner with those who extended a helping hand and apologized for the mistake caused. The narration of the incidents made me think that how non-sensible the motorists have become at large, totally inconsiderate of the social conduct towards a fellow motorist, before taking a physical action towards the guilty don’t they realize even for a moment that some day they themselves could be in the same situation?
Today the motorists are absolutely not willing to reason out and feel use of abuse and fists is the only way to solve an issue. In some cases I have heard yesterday and today, that the person who approached to help the victim had to end up bruised simply because the victim felt that it was his right to demand expenses and no amount of help and good gestures would compensate for his loss and damage. What the Hell?? Who gave the rights to assault a person for claiming damages? Moreover, the person who tries to help is further questioned for hours in the most inappropriate manner by the concerned authorities as if he/she did the biggest mistake to own up to the mistake and extended a helping hand.
Being a part of a responsible and educated automotive forum, I feel it’s my duty to write about this issue. I have seen many times that people have nudged and bumped my cars but that does not mean I should go out and shout at them and create a scene and be seen as a retard. From my end, I am making a small contribution in the interest of all motorists to help them understand that a Life is more important than a dent or scratch on the car/bike. By getting involved in ugly aftermath of mishaps no one is going to gain.
I am penning down some suggestions which I feel could help to some extent in improving the situations.
• If a person bumps your vehicle and readily comes up and owns up to mistake then forgive and move on.
• If a lady is involved, do not argue and use foul language and keep your temper in control.
• If the person does not own up to mistake then simply go and politely tell him/her their mistake. Might be you may get a reply like “Ya Ya Fine!!” But frankly speaking your politeness will make the offender feel guilty to the core.
• Do not retaliate to anyone who is adamant for a physical altercation on the road.
• Keep the numbers of Ambulance and PCR handy. If you happen to see someone in a bad/ugly situation do inform either of the two.
• Always appreciate the help given by a by-stander or the fellow motorist. A kind gesture towards the Samaritan shall raise your respect in their eyes.
• Always remember, physical fights are considered road rage and there are ample laws under which one can be booked. So in no ways one should ever be a party or initiator of anything that accounts as road rage.
• Try and understand, in a mishap your vehicle is not the only one that’s damaged. The offender’s vehicle is damaged too. So no amount of abuses or anger will rectify the damage. Be calm and resolve amicably.
• In case an elderly person is involved, do go up and ask if he’s Ok. It is highly likely that due to improper reflexes the mishap occurred so let go and do not take up the matter further. But definitely inform him/her about it.
• Also important is the fact that if someone has come to help you then make sure he/she is not harassed by the authorities unnecessarily because in today’s time the only reason why people at large resist from helping out is simply because of the harassment that one has to go through.
I hope, by giving a thought to the above suggestions, we all can make our roads more safer to drive and enjoy our drive instead of being tensed. Life is too small to nurture a grudge. Always forgive and try to forget and move on. I believe, my suggestions are helpful and useful.
Regards
Akash