No More Legal Troubles for Accident Bystanders

A couple of days ago, a video showing a Bengaluru woman desperately seeking medical help for her ailing husband went viral on the internet. Hospitals denied treatment to the man and a few hours later, he died in a road accident.

The video showed the woman begging for help but none of the motorists stopped to help her. Vehicles kept passing by but none of the motorists cared to stop and help the woman. Motorist and pedestrians remain indifferent to even the most gory accidents, in many cases. They hesitate to go to the aid of accident victims on roads or national highways, which eventually leads to death, fearing ‘unnecessary trouble’.

They fear even informing the police or ambulance services about the mishaps on road, to avoid getting into the muddle of police cases and follow-up enquiries. In addition, admitting an injured person in a hospital has to be met with expenditure, which is considered another major burden.

An act of benevolence would spiral into an endless trap and make the Samaritan feel suffocated. Viewing the trouble ahead, many would silence their emotions and ignore the accident victims, without any response.

Addressing the same issue, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari urged everyone to help accident victims without fear. He clearly said that there will be no legal issues or police trouble for those who come forward to assist the injured. Timely help can save thousands of lives every year, he said.

In a bid to encourage benevolent act of helping the accident victims, the Union Minister said that bystanders who help will be recognized as ‘Raahveer’ and will also be receiving a financial reward of Rs 25,000. At the same time, the hospital which provides seven days of treatment to the accident victim will also be reimbursed up to Rs 1.5 lakh for the care given to the needful individual, he said. The minister urged collective responsibility to reduce fatalities.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari said that studies show quick medical assistance can save nearly 50,000 lives every year. The government will cover the treatment cost given to the accident victims. Briefing about the steps taken up for the road safety under his leadership, Gadkari said a committee headed by the collector has been formed to identify accident-prone black spots and meet every two months. Over 60,000 black spots have been repaired at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore.

Gadkari said India records over one lakh road fatalities every year and that it is an alarming figure. To avoid mishaps, six airbags have been mandated in automobiles and two helmets with every purchase of a two-wheeler.