Igno Ramus

Ignorant drivers in the mountains are often entrusted with ferrying around excitable passengers. Slow trucks crawling up characteristically narrow ghat roads at single-digit speeds invite risky passes by even initially patient drivers. Blind curves are usually met with a lead foot instead of a light boot.

Those behind the wheel might do well to curb this over enthusiasm, since traffic around bends is visible only at the last instant. It is truly miraculous how bikers especially manage to retain control and skin texture during forced forays into the gravel. Also, riders need to make it a point to have their helmets strapped on, or be prepared to have them bounce off in the event of an unexpected impact. Close shaves and near misses are shockingly habitual to these unprotected road users.

Image source: www.trekkerboy.com

We might do well now to not just pry over spilt brains, but ponder seriously over this blatant disregard for common road sense. Thick-skinned attitude towards safety is now an even bigger epidemic. Accidents in the hills are adding more and more to the ever-escalating and ever-disgracing 150,000-odd annual road accidents-related death toll.

Driving schools are meant to school, not fool.