Crash Test Dummies

This Saturday, my car got hit by a two wheeler. I was slowing down, as the car in front of me, while keeping an eye on the rear view mirror. And what I see - a speeding two-wheeler with a pillion approaching with a lot of momentum. A few moments before the impact, the rider realized and tried to take a sharp turn, skidded and hit the ground while rubbing the bumper of my car on the left.

Leaving Richa and Ritwik inside, I came out to look if the side panels were safe.... they were. Bumper was bruised. Relieved by the damage that I can live with it (why? that's another story on the behavior of Bangalore's two-wheeler drivers), I approached towards the rider and the pillion due.

Both in their thirties, males, Laurel and Hardy look alike. Before I could speak, the rider (fat guy) came forward telling me how I should not worry as there is no damage to the car. Ignoring him, I told him not to worry about the damage and tell me if I could be of any assistance. I asked them if they are fine - the thin guy (the pillion) was quite nervous and his hands and legs were shaking. The fat guy had bruised knees and palms with traces of blood.

I told the duo that it is not safe to ride with this kind of speed and they could have fallen on the other side (instead of left) of the road. The rider (fat guy) got quite defensive and started telling that this mishap is the responsibility of another two-wheeler rider. I was quite amazed at the attitude - in a situation where they should be thanking their stars and making a promise (to themselves) that they will ride with some kind of responsibility, this fat guy was accusing somebody else!

Speed Thrills but Kills

This is the sign you read on most of the highways (if you may call them) in our country. However we can still see many vehicles, not even roadworthy, doing more than 100 km/hr on roads which in reality are barely fit for 40km/hr speed.

Have a look at the crash in Japan involving some of the best super-cars in the world. And all these cars are fitted with all the latest gadgets to deal with all sorts of instabilities. But once the lead car was in a spin, all other cars following became victims.

Point to ponder is, once a car in spin, no matter how many ABS, ESP, EBD etc. you have in place, nothing can save you. An out of control vehicle with all type stability gadgets is as good as a vehicle without any such gadget. In a crash situation what really matters is if your car is really safe. Incidentally, in the Japan crash  all cars were quite safe and that's why drivers came out unhurt or only with minor injuries.

Please consider following points before you kill yourself or your family or somebody else-

• Do not drink and drive, no matter what your capacity is. Capacity is no excuse for an accident.
• Even when your car is fitted with all stability gadgets, the car in front or rear of you might not be... and once in a spin... gadgets will not help you.
• Indian roads are not (including so called highways) are not design for speeds more than 60 km/hr. Driving above this speed demands extra attentions..... and therefore is quite stressing.
• Discard your unsafe cars (if you can afford). "Some protection is better than none" - apply this thought out of your bedroom as well.

Practice safe driving and encourage the same.

PS:

• As per the WHO report on Global Status Report in Road Safety, India has the highest number of road accidents in the world.
• As per National Crime Bureau Records, there were more than 135000 fatalities due to road accidents in India in 2009.

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FDI in Retail

If you look carefully, you will realize the debate on allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail is happening entirely on a different level.

The current debate is all about whether organized retailing in India should be allowed or not? Look at the stakeholders that are being cited - farmers, consumers, retailers, whole-sellers etc. etc. Where is the FDI part? It is all about organized retail.

Organized retailing in India is already happening and it is here to stay. What will happen if FDI in this organized retail is allowed? I do not know. But one thing is for sure - jobs will not be shifted to the USA, Germany or France as various politicians have been claiming on various TV channels.

Job shift will definitely happen but from unorganized retail to organized retail.