Celebrities should choose to lead by example

Rohit Sharma. Pic/AFP

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma was issued two traffic violation challans entailing a cumulative fine of Rs 4,000 for speeding while driving a Lamborghini Urus on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, recently. The fines, which were processed the day after the incident were paid.

In the first instance, an auto camera installed on the Expressway recorded the speed of his luxury car near Kamshet Tunnel at 117 kilometres per hour, much higher than the permissible limit of 100 kmph, a sub-inspector said. Near Somatane Phata, the car was clocked at 111 kmph.

While the World Cup is one factor, with Sharma leading exceptionally from the front, there are certain responsibilities off the field too.

Call it unfair, or not, the minute scrutiny the famous are subjected to indicates that they are held to a higher standard than most. They also are idols and demi-gods for the younger generation.

Speed limits are made for a reason, and when you exceed them, you are endangering others and yourself; that is straightforward and brooks no argument.

Also read: Rohit Sharma fined for overspeeding while driving on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

While being held to extremely fierce and almost continuous scrutiny, because of the omnipresence of social media is very difficult, it does come with the territory of being famous. That is the reason why there is a bigger onus on celebrities or the famous to let their actions follow the law.

Sharma should actually now be used in an advertisement or as a messenger stating that over speeding is an invitation to disaster. A slow, measured innings is better than a dash and bash one. Sharma must live by that on the road and can be an effective and memorable emissary for that one.