Keep these points in mind to handle a road rage situation safely
A shocking road rage incident in Gurugram between a group of bikers and a few hooligans has left many of us stunned. As of now we already know that our Indian roads are not the safest to ride a motorcycle or drive a car, and people acting like maniacs and causing damage to others is not really something new. The statement “roads are filled with idiots” truly makes sense here.
These bikers were just out for their usual breakfast ride when things escalated and what followed afterwards was truly ‘uncivilized’ and could have been avoided. Situations like these can arise anytime, so here are some points to keep in mind during such scenarios.
Stay calm act civilised
During a road rage scenario, try not to lose your calm and try to convince the other party that you are ready to address the situation in the most civilised and polite way possible. Apologizing first could help a lot and once the situation is calm enough, you can explain to the other party your side of the story. Usually, the anger and rage during these situations lead to disagreement and pointless argument sessions.
Save yourself first
The most important point to remember here is that, if you notice someone riding or driving inappropriately, then try to maintain a safe distance from them or just stop and have a relaxing cup of tea. If you do get into a situation where someone is trying to stop you aggressively, just try to get to the nearest Police station in the safest way possible. Remember, a motorcycle will get through traffic much more easily than a car.
If you get into a situation where the other party tries to physically harm you or your vehicle, just step aside and save yourself first. Remember, motorcycles can be repaired. It is very uncommon for road incidents to happen without a group of on-lookers so ask them for help. If you are alone then try to seek shelter. Usually the anger situation causes the parties to act violently which can lead to some serious injuries.
Everything requires a proof
The biker group in the Gurugram incident had video evidence of the whole situation, which helped them out to get the situation sorted legally. So try to use your smartphone or action camera to record footage about the situation. Record the number-plate and faces of the other party as this will help you out while taking some legal action against them.
Report the whole incident to the Police
Getting the Police involved is pretty obvious at this point. They will go through the video proofs and interrogate the witnesses which will lead to the situation getting solved legally. The biggest plus point here is that the whole situation will be addressed without any violence or pointless arguments.
How to avoid getting into conflict
The reputation of bikers in India is quite ruined now, thanks to some irresponsible motorcyclists. So there are high chances of people automatically considering you the culprit if you are on a motorcycle. It does not matter what you ride or how you ride it, for others you are the one responsible for chaos. To avoid such situations just try to ride responsibly, avoid overspeeding or rash riding and following all the traffic rules is just a part of the exercise.
A lot of us don’t like to clatter our motorcycles with accessories or aftermarket stuff, but getting a motorcycle dash-cam installed should be a useful addition. At least it will provide you with a recorded footage of any incident which leads to conflict. That said, try to be a responsible individual and avoid causing unnecessary trouble for yourself and others on the road.
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