Is Delhi losing it? What makes the national capital prone to road rage

New Delhi: At a busy traffic spot in the capital city a bike brushes against a car and all hell breaks loose. The occupants of the car jump out and start hitting the rider of the bike. He dies. In another incident in some other place in the city, two brothers are shot dead over a minor tiff over parking. Delhi, never known to be a good-tempered city, is surely getting worse. The incident at Old Delhi’s Turakman Gate on Sunday night brings the issue of road rage into focus again. In this case, a 38-year-old motorcyclist was thrashed to death in front of his children after his bike touched the rear of a stationary car. [caption id=“attachment_2188521” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The problem of road rage seems to be worsening in Delhi. AFP[/caption] The numbers should serve the warning to the city’s administrators that the problem is going out of hand and they need to get serious about road rage. According to the records of Delhi Police, a total of 93 cases of road rage were registered from January to 30 November last year. While 53 such incidents were registered in 2013, the cases involving motorists in violent acts were 49 in 2012. The number of registered road rage cases stood at 34 and at 36 in 2010. These are reported cases only; for every such case there are several which go unreported. A survey conducted by the Delhi Traffic Police last year says the city is witnessing a rise in road rage cases because of the “worsening behaviour” of motorists on roads. It says aggressive driving accounted for 25 percent of such cases, while continuous flashing of headlights accounted for 27 percent, persistent honking 25 percent and verbal insults and rude gestures accounted for 23 percent. The fine imposed for such behaviour is low. Worse, the passersby rarely call the PCR or note down numbers, making it impossible for the police to track down the accused later. Take a look at some recent incidents of road rage in the national capital: 28 February, 2015: Two brothers were shot dead in Outer Delhi’s Bawana area following a minor spat over parking. 9 March, 2015: A 24-year-old MBA student, Mandeep Kalita suffered severe injuries when he was hit with a hockey stick on his head in South Delhi’s Amar Colony. The incident took place after Kalita’s car got stuck because of a traffic jam and another vehicle behind his car started honking. This led to a heated argument between the two sides. 12 December, 2014: A 45-year-old man slipped into a coma after a young boy attacked him on his head with an iron rod after his car grazed the boy. 16 October, 2014: Delhi Police Special Cell ACP Amit Singh was brutally assaulted by unknown men near Lodhi Crematorium in South Delhi after he tried to intervene in a road rage incident. 21 July, 2014: A former call centre employee from Manipur was beaten to death by five men sitting in a car after an altercation that took place when the victim was hit by the car. 14 June, 2014: A traffic constable, Mana Ram, was dragged about 150 metres and then crushed at Zakhira flyover after he signalled a car to stop for violating the no-entry rule. Ram succumbed to his injuries in hospital. 26 June, 2014: A south Delhi-based chartered accountant and his wife were assaulted by two unidentified men in Vasant Kunj after their car bumped into a Nissan Micra car behind them while reversing. 28 February, 2014: Two brothers, Shadab Singh and Kaptan Singh, were shot dead by a man Rahul over an argument about parking space in Bawana area in outer Delhi. Unfortunately, until the cases are extremely violent or an important person is involved, cops do not count it. Even then, the offenders are let off lightly. There are several reasons, according to experts, behind the hike in road rage cases. These include shrinking driving space, traffic jams, stress, aggressive behavioural rage, indifference towards the accused and less policing and less effective intervention by law enforcement agencies. “Road rage is not just a traffic violation but a criminal offence. A person who does not control his emotions and bullies another on the road does not deserve any leniency. Merely imposing a fine is not enough. There needs to be fear of the consequences. Harsher implementation of law and stricter punishment are necessary to instil the fear of law,” KK Kapila, road traffic expert and chairman of International Road Federation, told Firstpost. Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), people can usually be booked only for dangerous driving or causing hurt. Charges of attempt to murder and murder can only be included in extreme cases. He believes effective intervention by law enforcement agencies and more policing can bring the number of road rage cases down. “People should be made aware of how to address such cases. We will have to improve the sense of the community, bring change in our behaviour and most importantly strictly follow traffic rules,” he further said. Psychiatrists consider “stress”, “impulsive personality” and “unexpressed anger” as root causes of road rage. “Stress makes people impulsive and they do not care about consequences of their action. Intake of alcohol mood and aggressive behaviour also lead to such crimes,” said Dr Samir Parikh, director, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Fortis Healthcar. He added that the non-interventional attitude of bystanders is a matter of concern. Asked about the suggestions drivers should follow, he said, “Stop drinking alcohol or limit its intake, take rest properly, leave early for your destination and play soothing music.” Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said vehicles nowadays have become a symbol of status and drivers and occupants consider themselves to be superior. “Every small matter is taken as a prestige issue. The owner finds it unacceptable and is ready for a fight,” he added. Claiming that the police conduct joint checks in arterial roads at least twice a week to check all sorts of violations till late at night, he added, “We will also launch a courtesy-on-road campaign to educate motorists about behaving better towards others, giving them way and being mindful.” Asked about arrests, he replied the police are doing their “best”. “We are doing our best to curb road rage cases. But such incidents cannot be stopped completely unless people show restraint and patience while driving,” he told Firstpost. Asked what one should do if he is being threatened, Chander said, “Do not make eye contact, don’t react in the same way as the aggressive driver and control your temper. If someone wants to pass, slow the speed of your vehicle and let the person pass. While driving, follow traffic rules, follow lane driving and avoid overtaking, especially in congested traffic zones. Don’t honk unnecessarily to irritate fellow drivers. Last but not least, try to be courteous to your fellow driver even if he is at fault and let him have his way.”