Car Safety in India, kids and drivers make a worrisome threesome!
Truly, what goes in your mind when you send your kids alone with drivers/chauffeurs to tuition, games etc.?
Don’t you worry all the time when your kids go to a friend’s place with the chauffeur?
What you usually do in such situations? More often than not, a family member accompanies the child, right?
But can you really go with your child everywhere? Game classes, friend’s home, library, activity classes, going everywhere with them can become more complicated when their schedule gets busier. But how will you make your child independent and still keep them safe? With cases of harassment, child molestations, assaults by domestic helps and drivers making the news, I worry as a parent. All the time!
Why just blame the drivers. There are cases when parents just did not know what actually happened in the car. When children grow up, they have different kinds of friends and peer pressure. How do you know they are safe? How do you know they are going where they are supposed to go? When your child has a friend with her or him in the car, you would want them to be safe, wouldn’t you?
My Chauffer Troubles
I am sure you don’t feel comfortable when you leave your car alone with chauffeurs for a long time?You don’t know what is happening with the car while you’re gone. Your favorite car might very well be getting used as a pickup taxi by the driver for a few extra bucks, while you are attending that important meeting or being used for joyrides and personal errands by the chauffeurs while you are attending that family function.
Basically, you just don’t know what is happening with your car behind your back.
For example, my car was parked, and some miscreant had thrown a big stone at the windshield cracking it. He was on a bike. No one could identify him. Another time we were traveling, and after returning home found our 3-month-old car’s gate dented and badly scratched. The driver mentioned a brush with a truck on the night he had dropped us off. That was his version with no way of us knowing what he said was true or not and raising doubts if it was safe to let him drive our child home from school. We changed our chauffeur. That was the only solution available. But I still worry.
When I travel with my daughter or send a family member to pick her up from school, I worry. Someday she may have to go alone in the car. How safe is she? While my new driver appears to be a responsible man, there’s no guarantee about other people and their driving negligence.
The temporary driver from the agency: Is the car safe?
Another temporary driver from the agency had substance abuse problems and fell asleep at the car park. He was supposed to take my mom to her friend’s place. I thank the higher powers, for saving my mom from traveling that day. I worry each time I have to hire a driver from the agency, and my mom travels alone. She visits her bhajan group and the temple, and it’s not always possible to go with her. How do I ensure her safety?
Car accidents and incidents of lousy behaviors on the road make me feel worried. While we can all strive to follow the rules and be responsible citizens, the problem is with many who don’t follow the rules. Chauffeurs, temporary or permanent, come with their baggage and are on their best behavior in front of you, but what happens when the young and elderly are alone with them?
Car safety for children and the Elderly
A few days back, I heard about a family being heckled all the way to a restaurant and back by a bike gang in Kolkata. Imagining such a scenario with the child alone gives me sleepless nights.
One good way is to understand the nature, conduct and driving habits of your driver. That’s an excellent idea for the long term, but what can you do daily to keep your children and elderly family members safe while traveling?
Can technology solve the problem?
While accompanying kids everywhere and every time is not a viable and oft-repeatable option and dropping the chauffeurs off entirely is not workable either for most working couples, there must be a way out.
I firmly believe that the way out is technology. Can there be a gadget that can do real-time video streaming and send mobile alerts? Can there be a solution that is temper-proof? Is there a way to get alerted if a stranger gets in the car?
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I’m not sure if such a solution exists. Are tech companies listening? Can they help stressed-out mothers like me?
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Very useful post! Especially in today’s times when children safety is most important! I love the way you have tackled the issue and opened a door for discussion. Keep writing such informative posts.
Thank you.Glad you found this useful.
I find it hard to leave my kids with anybody else. I totally understand your concern. As a parent I take all the measures to keep my kids safe during car travel, and just can’t rely on anyone else for the same.
Yes.I feel the same.
It is so true that our children are not safe with the drivers. And tech companies should come up with something to keep them safe. I hope tech companies are listening to you.
Yes I hope so too!
Even after being safe, following all the rules there is no guarantee that people can be safe once they are out. I can totally understand and feel your concern.
That’s so true. I hope there can be solutions.
What is nothing more important than the child in the family safety you have raised a genuine issue and I am looking forward for a good technical solution to this soon.
Yes, I hope so too. Looking for options.
I am sure there must be some tech solution for this.. only an old driver can be relied upon.
That’s one way of finding a solution.
That is so important post for all car safety is really a point to discuss and understand as your little ones are traveling with you. People understand the importance of life I hope.
Looking for options.
Great article – definitely something to think about! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
Looking for options.
Till date we have never left our kids alone with drivers. But I think technology soon will have a better solution for parents .
Looking for options. Yes I think tech could help.
Very valid observations. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you found this useful.
I never feel secure living my kids alone to the unknown, so relatable.
Yes, its a worry.
What you have raised is every mother’s concern. Drivers and maids are not reliable. But just like a camera settings at home for safety, perhaps something can be done for the cars too…of course without the drivers driving where it is. Or probably something else. But we do need some technology here too.
Yes, its a worry. I am looking for solutions too!
Your worries are totally justified Amrita! One can never be too sure of safety in today’s big bad world. Especially with kids! Kent’s CamEye is a product I remember being advertised by SRK. It seemed worth a try.
Thanks, Kala. Some other friends mentioned this too.i plan to check it out.
This is a very informative article Amrita.. I never send my son alone with the driver in the car
Yes, its a worry.
Your blog post resonates sentiments of many like me, its a constant cause of worry , trust issues & sometimes guilt; but we all do worry about the safety of our loved ones and yes our cars bought from hard earned money! Indeed ,if there is some sort of tech gadget, a camera maybe it will really help us put our fears of “what happened “ to rest!
Yes, its a worry.Glad you found this useful.
This is so scary reading this gave me goosebumps. You are so right and I hope there is a technology based solution to this soon
Yes, its a worry.
Parents would always be worried for their kids while driving as kids are hyper active. We need to find a solution.
Yes, its a worry.
Definitely a major concern for all parents. I have recently ordered a GPS Tracker for my son which works by sim and it’s app can be downloaded on parents’ mobile. Hoping it to be useful.
Yes, its a worry. That will help to some extent I suppose!
Did you try out a gps tracker for the car? It can be installed without the knowledge of the driver and you can track it on your phone.
Yes I am looking at a few options.I would like a video feature too,I think.
Agreed with the concern of the safety for kids and adults while driving cars. Ride and drive safe and use technology efficiently.
Yes I hope so too.
You have raised such an important issue here. However, I am sure with so much technoligical advancement around us, a permenent solution is not far enough.
Yes I hope so too.
These are some valid points on car safety in India. Especially we need to be alert about the kids’ travel
Yes I think so too.
I am alarmed from the date you have raised this issue buddy. Really reAlly am looking for a solution too
Yes I hope so too.
Even I am very conscious about it and can’t leave my kid alone in the car
I can so understand your worry as a mom. You can definately intsall a GPS tracker to help you know real time route taken also have you thought of installing a securtity camera inside the car to keep an eye on the driver or your family members
Oh did not know there are so many issues 😲 we dont have a car yet, mostly we travel in hired cabs.
Kids safety is the biggest concern of every parent and this is really going to help …
In a way this blog was scary. I never thought of these points. YEs technology may be a solution to the same but remember the same can be tampered with. Its sad on one point we claim we dont have enough employment on other side, such incidents make it scary to employ someone.May be driverless cars would be better.
Car safety for kids is so important indeed. Alas I see many people compromising with this so easily.
Very relevant post. Car safety is a must but not many people think much in this regard. I hope some safety measures/apps come up in this regard.
Car safety cannot be taken lightly. We need to give proper attention not just to gadgets that we can add to the car but people like drivers who handle it in our absence too.
You have raised a valid concern. Safety for our kids and family while they are traveling with a driver is a must. I think CamEye car security camera may be a good option. This device is useful for vehicles and passengers that use dual cameras to record everything happening inside and outside the car. It allows the live video streaming of either of the camera. It also acts as a vehicle tracker and helps the user to track the real-time GPS location of the car, and playback the route traveled by car on a map. Do check it out!
This sounds like an option I need to check out. It sounds like it has several useful feautures
I am sure some genious minds are already working on a solution to this issue.
That’s something I am hoping too!
I would like to know more if there are some technology solutions to this. Such a relevant issue in today’s time.
Yes I am looking for a tech solution too.
The number of car related accidents are always in the papers and yet we see people on the road being careless even when their kids are with them, I guess there needs to be more awareness about the ways one needs to take care of themselves and their family while on the road.
Yes, thats right.Need more awareness.
A very relevant post. As parents, we are always worried about child safety and travel time poses so many threats in the worsening traffic scenario.
Thanks, Ninu.Glad you found this relevant.Any tips to make things better?
Driving is an art. People forget that and create hells.
Thats true
true that amrita.. Car safety is really a stress to me as well. I fail to understand till when can i be around all the time literally
Exactly my worry too!
The technology is improving every day and GPS enabled cars are good to track but they need regular monitoring.
Yes, thats there too. But GPS is not enabled in mid-ranged cars , but only in high-end ones, I think.
Sending kids alone with the driver, even a trusted one, doesn’t free parents from worries. GPS tracking can only do so much. Installing cameras should work I guess.
Yes I am exploring such options available.
We badly need this as most of the times drivers are not good or at nights we may be in trouble, better to have our own gadgets to secure ourselves
Yes, thats very true.
You have raised such valid points doc, very thought provoking and worrying. I hope we get the solution soon
Yes I am looking for solutions.
Yes leaving kids in strangers accompany is worrisome. But there are cameras that can fitted in the care and car can be tracked through Gps. Hope we have more methods to travel safe.
Yes I am looking for something like that. Thanks for reading.
This is really troublesome and worries something which never allow me to leave a kid in car
Yes, it’s very worrying.
You are so right! This is a real issue but not everyone thinks of this. I hope there is some technology that can help us here.
Yes, I am hoping too and searching everywhere.
Agree! Car safety is something our administration has always kept on the back burner. It’s time we understand and make some stringent actions to implement safe travels for tiny tots and parents alike.
I read about some gps tracking bracelets for kids which send you signals! Safety is a big concern when other people are involved in your child’s routine
True that.
I never send my son alone with the driver. There has to be a responsible adult in the car with him.
Yes.We have the same setup.
This is a relevant and truly worrisome issue which we all face. There is this advertisement by Shahrukh Khan for CamEye car security camera. It looks promising. Do check it out.
Yes I am planning to do just that.
i get worried while driving alone with my daughter for no other reason but only because she is hyper active and keeps moving even when seat belts are buckled.
Driving with children can be tricky .Do you use a car seat ? How old is your daughter?
No we don’t have a car seat, I make her sit on back seat with seat belts
Thanks for sharing your experience.
That is the brilliant post by a brilliant mind
I loved it
Thank you
This is an important topic to talk about. Parents and kids both should aware of the negatives aspects too. Very useful post.
Thanks, Deepika.
I guess there are tracking apps available with inbuilt GPS system and live streaming too. Probably named Locus or similar can’t remember. But the reliability on it alone is questionable. It is indeed a scary situation when our kids or elders are travelling alone.
It’s really scary sometimes thinking how dangerous it could be if kids get locked in car…I am glad you have shared good pointers here
With ever increasing motor on road , it is a very troublesome topic. I can understand as a mom it is really a point of stress for me as well.. Wish we get some techonolgy to help
Yes I hope so too!
Kids safety is foremost concern for all parents and I have heard cases where due to negligence in car safety some major issues happened!!
That is a huge concern. With the traffic these days, even if you are driving safely, there’s no guarantee that you won’t get into an accident. It would be nice to have someone trustworthy drive the kids around.
I think this is a very relevant topic with the massive exponential grwoth of four wheelers in India and the relative lack of safety features in most Indian cars.
True that.Its only in high end cars that you can get some extra safety features.
Very true! This is one of the biggest worries a parent can have. One solution is to install a wireless camera in the car, that you might have to charge regularly.
Thats what I am thinking about too.Thanks Apeksha
There are GPS based car tracking devices. Else a simple smartphone with a data enabled sim kept obscurely in the car (without the knowledge of the driver) will be able to track the route taken by the driver courtesy Google Maps!
The first one I am looking out for and the second one is a pretty cool idea .Need to see how well it works.
This is an important topic since car safety is very important esp for elderly and kids.
Exactly.A very important topic indeed.
Yes it’s always worrisome leaving kids alone be it home or outside, have recently heard a lot about apps like footprints, alarm, securafone, trakbond but yet to test them as none are as strong as mother’s eyes and senses.
Thats so true.But how long you or me go everywhere all the time?Its one area which is very troubling.