My neighbour, let’s call him Mr M, should never have been given a driving license. The man is a real menace on wheels. I’ve had to turn down more invitations from him than from my entire extended family because the thought of sitting in his car makes me break out in cold sweat. He imagines himself to be a Formula One driver. Thankfully, the state of the ageing Maruti 800 has prevented many of mishap on Gurgaon’s chaotic roads.
People like Mr M make me question the survival of the human species. And I’m not just talking about people racing down roads in their cars and bikes. There are the supermarket speeders who are equally dangerous - people who race through aisles of supermarkets with their shopping carts knocking down innocent shoppers in the process. They just need to get to the finish line – in this case the checkout counter – first. I’ve had multiple run-ins (quite literally) with these adrenaline-fueled aisle sprinters. In my most recent (mis)adventure, a woman rammed her cart over my big toe so forcefully that I briefly considered flinging a baguette at her in retaliation.Why do people speed? Well, there’s research claiming impulsive people are more prone to speeding, while folks with terrible time management skills try to compensate by racing through life - literally. People who have difficulty managing anger may be more likely to engage in risky driving, studies say. Meanwhile, cautious drivers spend half their time wondering whether they are the only sane ones left. Whatever the reason - fragile ego, poor impulse control, or an inability to leave home five minutes earlier - the collateral damage inflicted by an individual’s personality quirks can ruin lives.
Delhi has the highest number of road accidents in India, but Gurgaon could give Delhi a run for its money. A quick Google search of Gurgaon’s traffic news reads like a thriller you wish you hadn’t started. Depressing doesn’t even begin to describe it.
So the next time someone speeds past you - on a road or in a supermarket aisle – get out of the way. Some people are simply wired to believe the world is one giant racetrack. And the rest of us are the unfortunate spectators hoping that they won’t get run over.
