No matter how many public service ads and police driven initiatives you see on this, there will always be a Nooria or a Sanjeev Nanda or an Alistair Pereira or a Salman Khan or a Puru Raaj Kumar. There will always be the nameless victims with their families snatched of a breadwinner. These victims are not powerful, influential and connected. They just wipe their tears and get on with the gritty business of living. The case will drag on for years. Lives will go on. A Puru Raaj Kumar will pay Rs 35,000 for two lives. And yes, the perpetrators will be out on bail. Living their lives as they did before. Perhaps even drinking and driving again. It makes my blood boil. It really does. How difficult can it be to take the decision to just flag a cab if you have had a drink or two? How difficult can it be to be adult about drinking and driving?
Over 650 people have died last year in Mumbai alone thanks to drunk driving. How many more people will need to die before people stop driving under the influence? We are not even talking about those who have been injured yet, whose lives have been changed completely with a limb gone, with eyesight ruined, with injuries so terrible that they will spend the rest of their lives just trying to cope with the cruel hand fate dealt them of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The spouse is, thankfully, very particular about not taking the car out even if he has just a beer in him. I dont drink. But then I dont drive too, so I’m pretty much not in the debate except for refusing to sit in a car being driven by anyone who I know has had a drink or two. I detest the sheer irresponsibility of it. I’ve been in some fairly major accidents. Yes, once when the husband was a few beers down. The car was totalled. The lower half of my face needed to be sewn back on. I still have a few scars I carry. My front upper teeth chipped away unevenly from where the pieces got embedded in my lower lip from the impact. A neck that hurts still thanks to the whiplash. A fear of driving that no amount of teaching and practice sessions can get me rid off.
Thankfully no one was hurt seriously. Thank god no one was killed. The man learnt his lesson. He has never since touched the wheel if he’s had a little to drink. It is terrible that it would take such a severe accident for him to learn his lesson.
This is what the cops should be doing for everyone they catch driving with alcohol in their system. This is what is on the anvil. And if Nooria has any decency in her, she will ensure the children of those she has killed get an education. If she has any decency, that is.
Links: http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/jul/20/delhi-hc-to-deliver-bmw-hit-and-run-verdict.htm
Fortytwoandcounting 
Gosh!! I’m really sorry ur family had to go through such a terrible accident. Hugss to you. Really pathetic why people don’t understand the importance of not driving after drinking!!
innocent lives lost.. somebody’s father, husband, wife, child..
The laws need to be very very strict.
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Shruti: Its a disease across the world….the laws do need to be made tighter…
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It seems to be an ego issue,specially among the men.I have friends who think that they are in control of their senses even after a few drinks and so they think the rules don’t hold good for them.
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Seema: That is so true. People dont realise how drinking affects reflexes and body control, even a single drink can slow you down.
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i have NEVER understood what the kick is? where is the bravado in telling stories about how you were drunk and drove so smooth! or went on the effin highway!
isnt it a question of that ONE time you could NOT control it? and if someone doesnt care about their own lives, let them not, but why should i or any other common person be at the risk of being run over and killed!
these things always get my goat. here in bangalore its is the hiller cabs! people say they have awesome control over their vehicles. but the person coming from the other side might not, innit?! 😦
the accident you guys went thru is scary enough. least a lesson was learnt…
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Abha: Yup lesson learnt and never forgotten.
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It is really sad, when innocent lives are lost due to other people’s mistakes rather, careless negligence. There are so many horrifying cases here, of drunk driving deaths. Just recently 5 teenagers, died, by crashing into a tree at 180kmph, and the driver was heavily drunk. It is just terribly terribly sad!
About taking responsibility, I doubt people who are irresponsible enough to drive, drunk will take the responsibility for their misdeeds. Though I think the law should make them do it.
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Goofy Mamma: The law should make it compulsory for the drunk driver to work/contribute to the victim’s family.
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I was really baffled by this incident too wondering why people continue to do the same thing after numerous such incidents. May be its because they would have driven drunk a thousand times before and think that they are the extremely capable few who would not have any problem. You are very right in pointing out the irresponsibility of it all. Hopefully this incident will instill some sense into others.
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musings and memories: I doubt anything will change. People still get off scot free. Unless laws are put into place, nothing will change.
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nahee piyengey nahee piyengey but attempt this tag first and win a book
http://golkamra.blogspot.com/2010/02/jag-main-rah-jayenge-pyarey-terea-bol.html
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