A viral video showing a man riding a motorcycle with a woman sitting in his lap, both without helmets, has sparked outrage and led to swift action by local authorities. The incident, which occurred on May 17 on Bangalore International Airport Road, highlights the ongoing issues of road safety and reckless behavior in the city.
The clip, shared by the Bengaluru Traffic Police on social media platform X, shows the man driving his motorcycle at night with the woman precariously positioned on his lap, her legs hanging over the side. Both individuals were without helmets and seemed unaware they were being recorded.
Hey thrill-seekers, the road isn't a stage for stunts! Keep it safe for everyone, including yourselves. Let's ride responsibly. 🛑🏍️#RideResponsibly pic.twitter.com/Cdg96cpdXx
— ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಸಂಚಾರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ BengaluruTrafficPolice (@blrcitytraffic) May 19, 2024
"Hey thrill-seekers, the road isn't a stage for stunts! Keep it safe for everyone, including yourselves. Let's ride responsibly," the Bengaluru Traffic Police captioned the post. The video, which aimed to raise awareness about road safety, revealed that the man was allegedly trying to impress his girlfriend.
The video quickly garnered 31.4K views and numerous comments from concerned citizens, many of whom tagged the Bengaluru Traffic Police demanding action. Responding to the public outcry, the Hebbal police station identified and booked the accused. The overlay text on the video read, "Think safety, ride safely. Protect lives on the road. Bengaluru is a city to cherish not a place to mess around."
Public reaction was mixed, with some calling for both the man and the woman to face consequences. "Why not that girl, why can’t she be arrested? Arrest her too," one user commented. Another added, "What about the girl? Unfortunately, the law only targets the boys!" A third chimed in, "Great, highly appreciated. I will be glad and more happy if they are caught right at the next signal without any delay and damage to others."