Kerala police have fined a Maruti Suzuki driver Rs 2.5 lakh and cancelled his driving licence because he did not give way to an ambulance. The driver of the ambulance recorded the incident on his dashcam. The punishment may seem excessive but some such law must be implemented pan India. Indian drivers are 'generally' heartless and do not give way to ambulances. On one occasion I was in an autorickshaw when I heard the siren of an ambulance behind. I told the driver to move left. He shrugged his shoulders and said that it would be useless. But as I insisted he grudgingly gave way. Immediately a vehicle from the left cut in and occupied the space vacated by my autorickshaw. All ambulances should be fitted with dashcams, but even a mobile phone video by an ambulance driver must be admissible as evidence. If the video indicates that the driver ahead did not make any effort to make way for the ambulance his driver's license must be suspended for at least 2 years, along with a reasonable fine. The implementation of such a law will save many lives.
