We have encountered several incidents in the past that prove how dangerous driving or riding in India can be. Indian roads are full of surprises, and lately, road rage incidents have become more prevalent. Here’s an incident from Gujarat...
We have encountered several incidents in the past that prove how dangerous driving or riding in India can be. Indian roads are full of surprises, and lately, road rage incidents have become more prevalent. Here’s an incident from Gujarat where a road safety activist, known for posting videos on social media, was attacked by the public after he stopped a rider on the road who was traveling from the wrong side.
Piyush Dhanani, a road safety activist was beaten up by wrong side Rajus as he was insisting on stopping them from driving on the wrong side.
Dhanani has been asking drivers not to drive in wrong side on roads in #Surat.
Can anyone add more context ?
— Kumar Manish (@kumarmanish9) December 20, 2023
Piyush Dhanani, a resident of Amreli District in Saurashtra, is popular on social media platforms for initiating a campaign for road safety. The campaign primarily targets two-wheeler riders who recklessly ride on the wrong side of the road. Wrong-side driving or riding is extremely perilous and has caused several accidents in the past. Piyush often shares videos of such violations on social media and actively intervenes by halting these vehicles and urging riders to turn around.
Piyush was engaged in the same work when things took a turn for the worse. He arrived at a spot known for wrong-side driving tendencies among the public. The social worker spotted a scooter rider entering the road from the wrong side and intervened. He stopped the scooter rider and requested them to turn around. However, the rider refused, which likely provoked Piyush to take the keys from the vehicle. An argument ensued between the two, drawing attention from the locals.
As the situation escalated, the bystanders began physically assaulting and kicking Piyush. Under duress, the social worker returned the keys to the scooter. Nonetheless, Piyush persisted. After returning the keys, he positioned himself in front of the biker, insisting on compliance. The crowd, already agitated by Piyush’s actions, grew more hostile. Subsequently, they pulled Piyush by his hair and forcibly pushed him to the ground. Following this, the rider fled the scene.
Upon realizing that the rider was unwilling to heed his instructions, Piyush called the police. After being assaulted by the rider and others, he visited the police station and filed a case against the perpetrators. An FIR has been lodged under sections 323, 504, 506(2), and 114 of the IPC against unidentified individuals. Driving or riding on the wrong side of the road constitutes a traffic rule violation, and the police have the authority to take action against such offenders.
Piyush confronting rider
In this case, Piyush is merely an activist. He does not possess the right to take the law into his own hands. While his efforts to stop and redirect individuals riding on the wrong side were commendable, he overstepped his authority by removing the keys from the vehicle. Being an activist, he lacked the authority to do so. Ideally, he should have asked the rider to halt and turn around; if the rider refused to comply, he could have photographed the scooter or bike along with its registration number and shared it with the police for necessary action. Wrong-side driving poses extreme dangers, significantly increasing the likelihood of collisions. There have been instances where individuals have lost their lives attempting to save time or fuel by riding on the wrong side.
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