This refers to the article “When misfortune comes riding on two wheels” (Open Page, June 13). Pointing an accusing finger at two-wheeler riders may appear appropriate prima facie but it is also important to go into the root causes of the problem. In our country, traffic rules are violated by all road-users with impunity. In any accident, the heavier of the vehicles involved is invariably blamed and the driver penalised. A mob gathers at the accident spot and starts abusing the driver even before the police reach the spot.
Can the author testify that pedestrians abide by traffic rules? Do they not cross the road erratically? Many of them have the cell phone glued to their ears and pay little attention to the traffic. Even when the mistake lies with the pedestrian, the two-wheeler rider is invariably blamed.
Four-wheeler drivers are assumed to be elite, pedestrians are sympathised with even if guilty, bus drivers are above the law and hence the police target only two-wheeler riders. It is two-wheeler riders who bear the maximum inconvenience on the road, pay the penalty for faults not totally attributable to them and yet remain in the bad books of people.
S. Raghavan,
Chennai
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The articles on two-wheeler riders and Bangalore make one shudder. Keshav's cartoon clearly depicts the panic bike-riders create on the roads. They crop up from nowhere and one trembles at the sight and sound of them.
We violate road discipline when nobody is watching. We have scant respect for the safety of other road-users. These and misplaced adventurism are some of the causes of avoidable accidents.
R. Balaji,
Chennai
