Road
Accidents & New MVA
Why no fines on people in administration
for gross neglect in maintaining safe
driving conditions?
Fines on drivers of motor vehicles have
abruptly been made very high. However, the action has, barring some states, pushed
people to try and follow the rules, though grudgingly. The number of accidents
will certainly be reduced but only to some extant because besides traffic rules
there are numerous other problems that force accidents. For most of these
problems the administration is squarely responsible. The grudge in the mind of
the common man is also due to the fact that these problems are largely left unattended
and draw no punishment. If similar fines, in fact heavier fines because they
have many escape routs, are also levied on individuals at responsible positions
in administration, conditions will improve and public resentment will be
partially pacified.
The common man wonders where are similar
fines, on heads of Regional Transport Authorities, Traffic Police, PWD, NHA, Town Planning, Development Authorities, Municipal
Corporations, etc. for — 1. indiscriminate issuing of driving licenses without
proper tests; 2. non-synchronized or defective traffic signals; 3. absent road
signs; 4. allowing heavy vehicles to ply on roads at prohibited hours; 5. ditches
on roads; 6.uncovered-manholes; 7. wandering
stray cattle on roads; 8. dire shortage of parking space; and many more such
reasons for road accidents.
There
are chances that, like many other laws, after the initial strict implementation
all the changes in laws may turn ineffective in face of the inefficient functioning
of the bureaucracy, still plagued by red-tape, all pervasive corruption, and politician-bureaucrat
nexus.
Why we conveniently forget that any unauthorized
or unlawful activity is in reality a partnership project between the doer and
the one who allows, or unofficially authorizes. People responsible for
curbing such unlawful activities are rarely caught. Even when they are pointed
out, the smallest fry in the setup gets punishment and the higher ups escape,
at the most, with a remark or blame of dereliction of duty. To solve this
problem there should be a provision of strong punishment for dereliction of
duty. Unless both partners or all shareholders of such unauthorized projects
are equally punished the problem will never be solved. Like in the past, it
will continue to spread simply because the unpunished culprit gets incentive to
look for a new partner.
In
such conditions why not declare dereliction of duty to be a punishable
offence? There are chances that, like
the new Motor Vehicle Act, heavy on-the-spot pecuniary punishment with onus of
proving not guilty on the offender, will bring about considerable improvement also
at the administrative end, provided it starts at the top and then comes down
and not otherwise.
You
are punishing the driver for dereliction of his duties while driving a vehicle
on the road. Then why not punish individuals in administration for dereliction
of their duties to ensure maintaining conditions conducive to safe driving? Or are such heavy fines meant
only for common citizens and not for those privileged ones associated with
administration?
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