The Regressive attitude!

I was enjoying speeding in my Alto oblivious to everything else other than the exhilarating feeling of watching the road ahead and the beautiful site of the winding roads hugging sometimes paddy fields and sometimes Mango groves! All of a sudden I noticed a car from behind trying to overtake my vehicle and for a while I intended to keep up my speed but then better sense prevailed over me. I moved to a side to give way to the other vehicle! As soon as the car occupants had overtaken me, I saw them giving Hifi to one another followed by a quick triumphant glance– very excited that they had overtaken me! My first reaction was – how idiotic!!

During one of those chatty sessions with my colleagues the kind who dole out advices whether you want it or not! My colleague told me that I should stop commuting by my car as it was risky driving such a long distance everyday! He gave me two solutions – to commute by the transportation provided by the organization or to have a driver to drive my car! I wondered how the second option helped! It was his perception that a driver would do a better job I suppose! He went on to add that I was the only person for my husband and daughter and if something happened to me on my way to work it would be difficult for them! The imagery he had created of a truck suddenly coming from behind a tree and ramming into my car was so brilliant that for days after that(though I made sure I continued to commute by car) I was jittery on the roads with that image haunting me! One fine day I realized what I was doing to myself!

Yesterday, I had gone to BHEL on work and as I was driving, there was a vehicle behind honking , expecting me to make way for him even though there was ample space for him to overtake in that  wide road! When he realized I wasn’t going to make way for him, the driver’s ego was hurt to such an extent that he overtook my car. For a split second he almost stopped his car in front of my moving car and then started moving slowly in front of me! I was agile enough to respond to this ego burst and revenge! When he was sure he had done enough to take revenge on me, he sped ahead! Pcch pcchh! Long way to go sir! Such immaturity!

There are men who jump in front of the car driven by a lady even when it is very close to them in order to cross the road! Should we attribute it to their profound faith in the driving skills of the lady! Or is it their foolishness! ( they never do it when a man is behind the wheel)

There are a few men, who drive vehicles in the middle of the road especially buses and they refuse to budge an inch to make way for other vehicles! After a while they pull to a side and with a condescending attitude wave their hand to indicate that he has been kind enough to make way for us! ( This comes when they actually pull at bus stops- no generosity of theirs!)

Then there are those who (men) even when they come on the wrong side of the road have the audacity to gesticulate and tell you (women) that you have no brains!

My post would be incomplete if I didn’t mention another colleague of mine who was suggested a trainer by me to teach him driving and he gesticulated to me once on the road to go ahead with a wave of his hand! The same condescending attitude that I mentioned in an earlier paragraph!

Yet when I say all these about the regressive attitude of men, I also remember the good comments from some gentlemen who have appreciated my driving skills! To mention a few – you drive well! Madam is a smooth driver, I don’t think I can compete with you on the road…… to…. you drive like a teenager! The last comment had me thinking and I thought it was an insult to be told that one drives like a teenager coz I believe that most of them are reckless! It was later clarified that the comparison was restricted to the joy with which I drive my vehicle alone! Driving approximately around 90kms to work everyday, has made me an expert! And as far as the risk factor goes, it’s the Almighty who protects us everyday! Even if you are a fantastic driver if the other guys driving aren’t competent then… God alone can save you!

However the most important point to be noted here is not the hurdles faced by women drivers but the regressive attitude of men! Men need to change this attitude of theirs if the country has to progress! I of course am not saying Men need to appreciate our driving skills! However since God has given human beings a special gift called discrimination, I suppose it makes sense in using it! History has time and again proved that those societies which have given respect to women have witnessed the maximum progress! Statistics have proved that there are a fewer accidents happening due to women even after taking into consideration the fact that there are more number of men drivers!

India sure has a long way to go before they can accept women drivers! We have at least progressed from the days when women drivers were stared at by men on the roads!

 Thanks to lil mercies in life !