The
Hot seat: A Driver’s passion

BY- THANDRA
PAAVAN KUMAR



The most important part in the journey of life is to steer the
vehicle of our ideals and drive towards our goals in life. I consider
myself the star of this show as the driver in the fast lane. Donning
the mantle of a driver for the first time in my life was and is the
best experience till date. “No, I can’t do this; it’s out of my
league, what if I cause an accident? What If damage the car? These
were my inhibitions or fears when I was first asked to take hold of
the steering wheel, my ambition to drive notwithstanding. “Don’t
worry, you are a fast learner and I am sure you will do fine”, said
my father with a wink. Being a middle-class Indian was one thing, but
the most dreaded moment for me was the noisy road where I needed to
start, which was tightly packed with houses on either side, filled
with vehicles, signs and speed breakers. But in the present day
scenario, the challenges faced by a driver are numerous and, can only
be resolved if he is careful enough.

Accidents
are on the rise at an alarming rate. One of the prime causes could be
Smart phones. Laws, devised to prevent the use of mobile phones while
driving, have failed to serve the purpose. Though Smartphone is the
best companion that a man has- ironically, to our despair, it has
become more of a bane. Hence I would like to suggest keeping the
mobile in ‘ride mode or do not disturb mode’ and using the apps
which implement these ideas. The other causes could be mechanical or
technical errors, which are sometimes unavoidable. And, if the brakes
fail, engage the neutral gear, all the while sounding your horn. This
will help clear the road, and the car to decelerate and stop, but if
it doesn’t at least it will help in minimizing the crisis.
To
educate the young learners about the rules of road safety, and the
dangers of reckless driving is the best start that we can give
them; ensuring they drive carefully and when they pick up the pace
along the road, they are mindful of the mishaps that might occur.
It’s also essential to teach him/her the importance of seatbelts
and the simple mechanics of an automobile, not to forget the
maintenance of it. I believe the most vital job of a driver is to
be fully aware of all the dangers and the techniques to avoid them,
with a smile.


Failures are the best teachers. And the day I failed to save my
father from an oncoming truck has left an indelible impression on me.
My trauma motivated me to search for the best possible ways to save
lives; the need to educate, so that at least some of the young ones
are spared from losing their happiness, apart from making the world a
better place.