Biker duo on a cross-country mission to promote road safety

Travelling through 26,000 kms of India on a 350cc Royal Enfield, amidst stares and comments of “You are crazy”, this Bengali duo who landed in Bangalore 15 days after they began a road trip from Kolkata, have one message to spread through this journey: “Don’t play jokes with people’s lives: Ride Safe”.

“In 2009, India surpassed China with the most number of accidents reported annually. This is a worst case scenario and yet we are so lethargic about imposing rules,” says Aloke Banerjee, a journalist. This father of one and his friend, Prabatak Roy Choudhury, an education consultant, began their journey on February 7 and over an estimated four months, will travel through India, spreading awareness on road safety.

This is not their first, but after many road trips, Banerjee and Roy Choudhury have a reason close to their heart. “A close friend of ours was hit by a truck and narrowly missed having his leg severed. We have been riding bikes together for ages and yet we did not understand why people are so negligent about road safety. When we are at home we are responsible people, but what happens to us when we come out? Why don’t we realise that our irresponsibility puts others lives at risk?”asked the duo.

The first leg of their journey itself has shocked the two men and all they can say of the situation is that it is ‘pathetic’. Banerjee explains why.

“Most crossroads in the country have no signals or a traffic police guiding vehicles. The road conditions are awful. There are no hospitals or trauma centres on highways.”

Roy Choudhury adds to the list. “We have seen five people on a two wheeler. Bumps on roads which are supposed to be a safety measure, turn dangerous on highways because they are not marked. In Andhra Pradesh, which incidentally has the highest number of accidents in the country, people stared at us because we were the only ones wearing helmets.”

There are two steps towards increasing road safety in the country, says Banerjee, “The government has to take the first step. Impose rules and take strict action against those who don’t follow them. Set up more hospitals and trauma centres along highways. This will help in cutting down avoidable deaths. The next step is to create awareness. We have to take up the responsibility to be safe and not put others at risk.”

While the two agree that bikes are the riskiest, they also say that “bikes are amazing”. Says Banerjee, “While in a car, your experience with nature is limited to what you see through the frames of your window, on a bike, the outside world is much more real and close to you.”

He adds, nevertheless, that among youngsters, the passion for bikes is misplaced.

“It is the speed that youngsters go for to perform the dangerous stunts. I’ve tried the stunts when I was younger and I promise you they have nothing but a temporary thrill to them,” he says vehemently. “If you really want to enjoy a bike, take it slow and look around you. That’s where the beauty of the ride lies.”