Is There Any Solution for This?

Today while I was scrolling through Twitter, one headline caught my attention “280 Indians die every day due to over speeding.” I paused for a moment, thinking it was exaggerated. But as I read on, the numbers hit me hard in 2023 alone, over speeding claimed 1,01,841 lives on Indian roads. That’s not just a number  it’s a collection of broken families, shattered dreams, and lives that ended far too soon.

Just recently, another horrifying incident reminded us how fragile road safety truly is. In Chinnatekuru village, Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh,  a private sleeper bus traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru collided with a motorcycle in the early hours of the morning. The motorcycle got trapped under the bus and was dragged for several meters before sparks ignited a fire. Within seconds, the bus turned into a fireball. Many passengers were asleep, and several didn’t survive.

That tragedy could have been prevented. A moment’s speed, a second of negligence  and dozens of lives were lost in flames.

According to official data, 58.6% of road accident deaths in 2023 were due to over speeding. The next major cause  dangerous or reckless driving and overtaking accounted for 41,035 deaths (23.6%), while 17.8% were caused by other reasons such as weather conditions, animal crossings, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

 Why Do We Still Overspeed?

Maybe it’s the rush  the thrill of being in control, the empty roads, or the pressure to reach faster. Somewhere, we’ve normalized it. We tell ourselves:

“I know this route.”

“Just a few minutes faster.”

 “Nothing will happen.”

But roads don’t work that way. One wrong move, one unexpected obstacle and everything changes. The Kurnool bus accident showed exactly that: one small vehicle, one moment of impact, and an entire bus went up in flames.

The Aftermath We Overlook

Every headline about an accident becomes another statistic by the next day. But for the families, the pain never fades. Someone’s father doesn’t return home. Someone’s child never wakes up again. Every time we scroll past such news, we forget that it could have been any of us a passenger, a pedestrian, or a driver.

Is There Any Solution?

The truth is yes, there is. But it requires collective effort.

Strict enforcement of speed limits must be non-negotiable.

Driver training and mental fitness checks should be mandatory, especially for heavy vehicles and night routes.

Road design and signage need urgent attention, particularly on highways and accident-prone zones.

Public awareness should go beyond statistics  people need to feel the real human cost.

And most importantly  a change in mindset.

Speed is not a sign of confidence. It’s a test of responsibility.

So, the next time your foot presses down on the accelerator, take a second to think is reaching early worth never reaching at all?

Because sometimes, slowing down doesn’t delay life  it saves it.