Reckless drivers getting off scot-free!
A report in this daily yesterday shed light on the fact that only five percent of cases relating to road accidents result in conviction. The report also makes a mindboggling revelation: often times, the reason behind the accused getting away scot-free is law enforcers themselves.
We are all aware of the mayhem in the transport sector. And there seems to be no end to reckless driving that has cost way too many lives. So, how can we expect to bring discipline to the sector when an astounding 95 percent of cases result in no conviction? The fact that police officers many a time encourage out-of-court settlements, even when the law disallows such settlements when it comes to some serious crimes, is extremely dismaying. The report presents one such incident where a sub-inspector in charge of an investigation coerced a family into reaching a deal with the bus owner to withdraw the case and settle for a monetary compensation even though the case in question was "non-compoundable" (no out-of-court settlements allowed).
This only goes to show that bringing discipline to the sector remains a far cry despite longstanding demands to overhaul the sector, and that the government has an arduous task ahead which involves implementing institutional reforms. When law enforcement officials are uncooperative with families seeking justice and do not abide by the law, how can we expect a fair investigation to take place? Furthermore, there is also a dire need for judicial reform: our courts are backlogged with so many cases that for victims and their families, taking the legal pathway often means enduring yet another ordeal. The government should focus on ensuring proper conduct of law enforcement officials and making the judicial system more accessible to citizens. Otherwise, justice will remain elusive for road accident victims and our roads will continue to be death traps.
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