Stunts by selfie obsessed youth!

Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan’s selfie with a fan in Mumbai traffic earned him a rap from the police. We talk to youngsters and expert riders who share the inside track about cautionary measures to take.

From a clamorous ‘burnout’ and a gnarly ‘wheelie’ to pulling a ‘superman’ly step with a selfie, of course — acts like these, which are performed on motorbikes and moving vehicles,  are inane yet common occurrences on Indian roads. In a recent incident, Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan was also spotted indulging in a rather dangerous act— clicking a selfie with a pavilion rider who leaned towards the actor to fit in the frame, while Varun was in a car. The post, for obvious reasons, received major flak.  If reports are to be believed, the actor was fined with a challan too. Incidentally, the country also tops the charts in the number of ‘selfie’ deaths caused due to bizarre picture taking sessions and other stunts performed while on the move.

Incidentally, the country also tops the charts in the number of ‘selfie’ deaths — caused due to bizarre picture taking sessions and other stunts performed while on the move.

While many aren’t privy to such instances, where young bikers and ‘automobile’ freaks are spotted doing eyebrow-raising acts, in the midst of a journey all for the sake of a ‘good’ selfie.  The trend, which is often an attempt to emulate popular bikers and are inspired by movies, pose gnawing consequences that are often overlooked. We ask some popular bikers to comment...

Selfie on the go? Hell no!: Appaled by the number of similar occurrences, Rohit Giri, a popular International super bike racer, shares, “In all honesty, many Indian cities are not infra-structurally equipped to accommodate on-road stunts. We do not have dedicated circuits to try such acts. Professionals certified to perform stunts on bikes steer clear of such acts on the road. We (experts) do it under go-karting circuits under supervised circumstances. Taking a picture from a weird angle on your mean machine or a 'harmless' selfie while on the move is highly condemnable whatever may be the reason. And, before you blame the government for not taking adequate measures to stop someone from doing something, I suggest people to not be naive and be responsible.”

For those who just can’t seem to stop themselves from reaching out for their phones even while riding, biker Yashpal Kawasaki adds, “Truth be told, the selfie mania isn’t dying out any soon. I believe it’s important for riders to take charge and adopt to stringent measures — GoPro is a handy device, which can be fitted to the helmets or the bikes. This is a great option for those who can’t steer away from snapping themselves when on the move. But that aside, there’s absolutely no excuse to cause inconvenience or indulge in reckless behaviour. I also believe citizens and jaywalkers must be given the right to stop such acts, as cops cannot be around everywhere. It’s okay to take affairs to your hand.The focus should be on the road, not on the lens.”

Social Media to the rescue, perhaps: In an age when garnering attention is just a tweet away, Aishwarya Pissay, a model and woman biker opines, “It’s important to prioritise safety first. One can also tweet and bring it to the city police’s notice. People who indulge in such acts think it’s cool or will get them attention. When such acts are posted, trolled and shamed online, there’s a higher probability of seeing a reduction. People who do such stunts under expert guidance should also make it a point to put statutory warnings to ensure youngsters are not pressured into believing that reckless or doing the ‘unusual’ is cool.”