8 out of 10 Mumbaikars unaware law protects those who help accident victims: Study
Somit Sen | TNN | Updated: Feb 8, 2019, 05:26 IST
Illustration for representational purposeMUMBAI: Eight out of ten people in Mumbai are not aware of the Good Samaritan law that protects bystanders who come to the rescue of victims of road crashes, a survey conducted by SaveLIFE Foundation has revealed.
The survey showed 78% respondents in the city had no clue about the law which came into effect in 2016. SaveLIFE CEO Piyush Tewari, who was in Mumbai on Thursday for the Road Safety Week, said the survey revealed lack of public campaigns and insufficient awareness on the Good Samaritan law to encourage bystander care on the city’s roads.
The most cited reason for not coming forward to help crash victims was fear of police harassment (33% respondents); 28% said helping a victim could lead to legal hassles, court appearance etc; and 10% felt other people present at acrash scene would help.
In 2012, SaveLIFE Foundation had filed a petition in Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution for a legal framework for protection of Good Samaritans in road accidents. “The objective was to protect them from legal and
procedural hassles. Due to fear of harassment by police, detention at hospitals and prolonged legal formalities, bystanders are reluctant to come forward to help a victim,” Tewari said.
The apex court took a serious view, and the law subsequently came into effect in March 2016. According to the survey, in Mumbai, 38% of Good Samaritans involved in saving victims in the past few years complained police did not call an ambulance immediately after reaching the crash site.
Nearly 33% confirmed the victim was not carried to the nearest hospital by police. The new law states that any person who makes a call to the police control room or police station to give information about any crash need not reveal personal details. But 57% respondents said police asked personal details and 62% said they were not permitted to leave the accident spot.
Around 95% said medical professionals did not take personal details of Samaritans. As many as 91% said the law was not displayed at entrance of hospitals, leading to lack of awareness. Only 22% respondents in Mumbai were aware of the law and protection offered.
(With inputs from Pradeep Gupta)
The survey showed 78% respondents in the city had no clue about the law which came into effect in 2016. SaveLIFE CEO Piyush Tewari, who was in Mumbai on Thursday for the Road Safety Week, said the survey revealed lack of public campaigns and insufficient awareness on the Good Samaritan law to encourage bystander care on the city’s roads.
The most cited reason for not coming forward to help crash victims was fear of police harassment (33% respondents); 28% said helping a victim could lead to legal hassles, court appearance etc; and 10% felt other people present at acrash scene would help.
In 2012, SaveLIFE Foundation had filed a petition in Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution for a legal framework for protection of Good Samaritans in road accidents. “The objective was to protect them from legal and
procedural hassles. Due to fear of harassment by police, detention at hospitals and prolonged legal formalities, bystanders are reluctant to come forward to help a victim,” Tewari said.
The apex court took a serious view, and the law subsequently came into effect in March 2016. According to the survey, in Mumbai, 38% of Good Samaritans involved in saving victims in the past few years complained police did not call an ambulance immediately after reaching the crash site.
Nearly 33% confirmed the victim was not carried to the nearest hospital by police. The new law states that any person who makes a call to the police control room or police station to give information about any crash need not reveal personal details. But 57% respondents said police asked personal details and 62% said they were not permitted to leave the accident spot.
Around 95% said medical professionals did not take personal details of Samaritans. As many as 91% said the law was not displayed at entrance of hospitals, leading to lack of awareness. Only 22% respondents in Mumbai were aware of the law and protection offered.
(With inputs from Pradeep Gupta)
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