Killer on Wheels ..

(Class Assignment -by Evangeline and Prahas)

The Red Killers as youngsters in Ernakulam call them, a kind of their breed is found in almost every city in Kerala. So, who are these killers? Private Buses, they're called by more objective people. And what are private buses? These are buses owned by private contractors or individual. They may/may not be licensed to transport people for a fare and service areas where KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) fails to function.

Needless to say, they are a constant torment in their regular nature of declaring "strikes".But beyond that, in their rabid and violent competition with public transport buses, Private buses are feared for their rash-driving and total disregard for safety.

An average of 400 cases of accidents every year, has been reported in Kozhikode in the last three years. Ernakulam sees worse even with Traffic police depoted at every junction. Trivandrum is no less a competition with over 150 private buses operating in the city.

Bus operators however blame it on the Government's refusal to permit a hike in ticket rates. In addition to this, most of the commuters on private buses are students travelling on concessional rates. This forces the private buses to compete each other for passengers.

Most of the private buses are not fitted with speed governors. Some of the bus owners have removed these citing repairs.

But what is surprising is the fact that, this trouble comes to notice or is taken to a police station only when someone dies. Even with The Traffic Department and the Motor Vehicles Department talking of taking action time and again, nothing is done.

There are a number of sections under IPC that deal with rash driving:

• Section 279 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), leading to imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1000
• Motor Vehicles act - Section 184(driving dangerously), makes the driver contravening the speed limit punishable with fine of Rs.400/-, also driving dangerously in the public place shall be punishable for the first offence up to six months or fine which may extent to Rs.1,000/-, and for any or subsequent offence that the imprisonment extending up to two years or fine extending to Rs.2,000/-, or both.
• Section 189 - Fine and punishment for speeding vehicles
• Section 338. Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others , imprisonment for upto two years and a fine of Rs. 1000
• And for extreme cases, Section 304 A (causing death by negligence not amounting to culpable homicide)

But all said, how many of these drivers driving rashly actually get slapped with fines or get behind bars? With most of these private bus owners being related directly or indirectly to law enforcers in the state, most of the reported cases go unnoticed or sit in a file for years on hold.

-Evangeline E. Jose and Prahas Nair