Around 10:45 in the night, on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010; I was going back to home from office on my Honda Unicorn. At the intersection of 100 feet road and Old Madras Road (under the metro construction), a drunk carpenter on his 100 cc bike drove through the intersection, looking straight ahead without blinking. I was already half way through the intersection and watched helplessly as he rammed into my bike at top speed, from the left. No amount of honking helped as he was pretty drunk and was looking straight ahead.
All I remember is screeching sound of metal and plastic. Next thing I remember is someone lifting the bike (I had fallen on my left side with the bike on me and my left foot stuck under the bike’s silencer) and helping me up.
A big thank you to the locals and the metro construction workers. They apprehended the carpenter who was trying to flee (the boisterous ones rained a couple of blows on the unrepentant, inebriated dickhead as he tried to pin the blame on me, for causing the accident) and were there till the traffic police arrived.
In the meantime, the drunken prick had called up his relative. This relative of his started suggesting a compromise and settle the matter before the police arrived. The compromise was:
- to leave the scene immediately and me going to a hospital and get treated,
- then call up the relative who would then give the prick’s house address,
- go to the prick’s house and ask for reimbursement of medical expenses;
- forget the damage to the bike as he was a daily wage labourer (the relative also pointed out that the prick’s bike had been damaged too) who is struggling to make his ends meet.
The compromise was refused and in retaliation the relative (an impotent crossbreed b/w pig and a donkey) threatened that he would file a police complaint on my father and brother (who had reached the spot by then) for assaulting the dickhead carpenter. We still did not budge and did not allow the drunken dickhead prick to leave the scene of accident and continued to wait for the arrival of the traffic police. The relative started to taunt us saying that he will get the prick released on bail for less than 1500 INR.
The Indiranagar police station is around 500 meters down the road and was almost deserted. A wireless message was flashed and after an excruciating wait of 1 and half hours a traffic sub-inspector and a constable arrived on the spot. They took my mobile number and noted my bike’s registration number. Then the inspector asked my father and brother (who had come to my aid) to bring the vehicles involved in the accident to the police station which was around 500 meters away. The dickhead was in no condition to push his bike that far. The so called relative (kinky bastard) was no where on the scene (he had gone down to the police station to file a complaint as he had threatened).
The sub-inspector then asked us to leave and get first aid. He also told us to file a complaint on the next day at Jeevan Bhima Nagar Police Station. We were shocked as the police confiscated the dick’s bike and let him walk free. I received first aid treatment at CMH’s Emergency Casualty Center. An x-ray revealed no broken bones. However, the knuckles on my left hand were severely damaged (5 days later I still can’t bend my fingers on my left hand) There are bruises on my left hand and shoulder and on my left knee and toes. A big blood clot has developed on my left toe.
My father promptly went to the police station to file a complaint, but the inspector started to coerce my father into reaching a compromise. Frustrated, my father called up our family lawyer for counsel. Surprisingly our lawyer suggested the same thing. He spelt out the following hard facts:
- With the current backlog of cases in the courts, it might take more than 5 years for a decision. This is the situation in fast-track courts.
- The police have every reason to ensure the case drags as they can fleece bribes from both the parties. (my father had to pay around 1500 when he went to the police station to file a complaint)
- The lawyer’s fees over a period of 5 years would amount to more than 30,000 INR. Meanwhile the accident has resulted in loss of around 5000 INR (which includes my medical treatment and bike repair costs).
- Instead, get the bike repaired and claim insurance by telling the insurance company that I damaged my bike when I applied brakes suddenly and the bike skidded off the road.
Forgetting, as if the entire incident never happened, was the best thing to do and that is what I am trying to do. Problem is that these painful injuries are a constant reminder that it has happened. The injuries I have sustained will put me out of action for at least two weeks. But, what gets my goat is that drunken PRICK escaped with few scratches!
I am ANGRY.
- I am angry with myself for staying back in the office till 10:30, when my shift actually ends at 8:30.
- I am angry with myself for not leaving the office at least 5 minutes earlier or later as I could have avoided this accident.
- I am angry with myself, the society, the law, and basically everyone; on seeing that PRICK walking away with no injuries and punishment.
- I am angry at the apathy shown by the police.
What The Indian Law says?
According to the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 Sec 185 states that: Whoever, while driving, or attempting to drive, a motor vehicle,-
- has, in his blood, alcohol exceeding 30 mg. per 100 ml. of blood detected in a test by a breathalyser, or
- is under this influence of a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of exercising proper control over the vehicle,
shall be punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both; and for a second or subsequent offence, if committed within three years of the commission of the previous similar offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to three thousand rupees, or with both.
In Bangalore, the fine for first conviction for drinking and driving is Rs. 2000 and Rs. 3000 for repeat offences (according to a recent research paper by NIMHANS).
This is not enough. We need to make DUI laws stricter. In 2008, a parliament standing committee has recommended stricter laws to tackle drunken driving. Sadly, the government is yet to accept the recommendations. For more information please read Times of India article “Stiff law for drunk drivers” dated May 01, 2008.
No comments:
Post a Comment