In last few years, we have seen a spike in cases of wrong-side driving on our roads. These accidents take place really frequently lately. So many people lose their lives in these accidents caused by wrong-side driving.

Recently, an accident took place in Gurugram in which a 23 year old Akshat Garg lost his life when his bike collided with an SUV driving on the wrong side of the road. It took place on Golf Course Road in DLF Phase II. The incident got recorded on a GoPro camera that was placed on the bike of his friend. SUV driver was arrested but then he got released on bail. That does not make any sense, right. visit to given link–

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAK9HwGtbuB/?igsh=dTk2dnpvOG1hendn

Why is he roaming out there freely when he is the reason why Akshat lost his life due to driver’s negligence? This incident states the deadly outcomes of wrong-side driving, and it states how important it to impose strict laws and punishment.

As per the statistics, traffic police reported that 15% of all road accidents leading to death are caused by wrong-side driving. According to 2021 annual report, 21,491 road accidents took place due to wrong side driving out of which 8122 accidents led to death and 20351 injuries. Wrong side driving is a serious concern for sure. We need to talk about it in order to understand why it happens in the first place, their causes, consequences and solutions. Let’s get started:

Why is Wrong-Side driving So Common These Days?

To understand why wrong-side driving is increasing day by day, we need to explore the various factors contributing to it. Some of the main reasons include:

1. Lack of knowledge: So many drivers are not even aware about the proper rules to drive safely. They have no idea about the laws of traffic, road signs and other important things needed to drive safely. This lack of knowledge is topmost reason behind incidents related to wrong side driving.
2. Impulsive decisions: India is hugely populated and that is why roads in India are almost always crowded. People need to wait in traffic for so long. However, some people are impatient and they make rushed decisions. They may decide to drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid traffic or to reach their destination faster. Wrong side driving is never a wise choice and hence often leads to crashes.
3. Recklessness: Drivers in India are mostly so reckless about their driving skills. Their reckless and unprofessional behaviour leads to accidents. Most of them even drive cars being drunk, on a call and being highly sleepy. It is highly dangerous!   https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAWAl0zO0vj/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
4. No strict laws: There are a lot of places in India where no strict laws are in power. Authorities do not even care about driving related laws and there is no strict monitoring. That is the reason why drivers are casual about taking a risk since they have no fear of being caught or punished. Drink and drive accidents are caused by a lack of fear of penalty and strict laws.

The Consequences of Wrong-Side Driving

Wrong-side driving is a serious concern and it should not be ignored. It is something that should be discussed more to reduce and avoid deadly consequences. Let’s talk about some of the fatal consequences of wrong side driving:

1. Head injuries: So many people lose their lives after getting on the spot head injuries in road accidents. Our brain or head area is really sensitive and delicate. Wrong side driving increases the chances deep head injuries. Head injuries can be really severe, and lead to death.
2. Loss of lives and infrastructure: Wrong-side driving often leads to major accidents. It takes lives of multiple people involved and even of those people who are not even involved. Families get shattered after losing their loved ones. Vehicles get damaged too.
3. Financial expenses: Wrong side accidents not only affect one’s health but they have a huge impact on one’s finances.  Hospital bills, treatment of injuries, loss of productivity due to injuries, vehicle damage etc. all leads to increased financial expenditure. In the worst case scenarios, these incidents may result in life-term disability and it adds a lot of burden on the family members.
4. Psychological trauma: Victims of wrong-side driving accidents usually develop mental health issues due to psychological trauma for the rest of their lives. They end up get getting scared of cars and roads for lifetime. They may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression.

What Can Be Done to Address Wrong-Side Driving?

As we have talked about the serious consequences of wrong side driving, it is pretty evident that strict actions need to be taken to tackle wrong-side driving related incidents. We need to be determined not to drive on the wrong side of the road. If all of us unite in this action and follow good driving practices, there are chances that we may reduce or end wrong-side related incidents.

1. Well-constructed roads: Roads should be constructed properly so that drivers don’t get confused while driving. They won’t get confused if there are should be proper road signs, directional arrows to help drivers drive on the right side of the road. Other than that, barriers should be added to prevent cars crossing the two different lanes.
2. Strict legal laws: Strict laws should be passed and implemented when it comes to wrong-side driving and reckless behaviour of drivers. There should be strict punishment for the people who take these unnecessary risks and drive on the wrong side of roads. When drivers will be aware that there is strict punishment such as are heavy fines, suspension of license, jail, they will think twice before committing such risky behaviour.
3. Use of Technology: Technology has so many benefits; it helps us in so many aspects of our life. We can make best use of technology to solve the issue of wrong-side driving. Cameras with AI will keep an eye on traffic and to detect drivers who drive on the wrong road.
4. Awareness Campaigns: There is a strong need to educate drivers about the consequences of wrong-side driving. Public campaigns, social media campaigns and other programs will play a huge role in raising awareness about the risks and outcomes of wrong side driving.

Conclusion

Wrong-side driving is not just a traffic violation—it’s a serious issue that puts lives at risk every day. Growing frequency of wrong-side driving is boosting the number of dangers as it has serious consequences. From head collisions to deadly injuries, the consequences of this reckless behaviour are really major. However, like we discussed in this article that we can work on this issue in several ways- by having a certain road layout, implementing strict law penalties, following traffic rules, taking responsibility, and raising public awareness, we can definitely solve this issue.

It is not responsibility of drivers only to look after issue, it is our responsibility too! If we follow rules of driving, implement good driving practices and stay attentive while driving, we can help prevent wrong-side driving and make sure that every passenger reaches their destination safely. Solving this issue is on our hands so let’s work together to put a full stop to this deadly act and make roads safe for everyone.

For further insight into real-world incidents, please go through the links I am attaching: https://youtu.be/7SHGJEslMW8 and https://youtu.be/pd2Icb3Dwlk to learn more about tragic wrong-side driving accidents and their fatal consequences. These examples state the urgent need for action and responsible driving.