'Nothing Funny': Bengaluru Woman's Phone 'Jugaad' on Scooter Raises Safety Concerns

Desis and ‘Jugaad’ are a match made in innovation heaven, with Indians continuously showcasing their knack for thinking outside the box. Yet, not every ‘Desi Jugaad’ story warrants applause, as evidenced by a recent incident involving a woman in Bengaluru who ingeniously managed to talk on her mobile phone while navigating the busy roads on her scooter. The clip of her inventive solution has now gone viral, stirring up discussions about safety on the roads.

Posted on ‘X’ by @3rdEyeDude, the video captures the woman’s resourcefulness as she devised a ‘hands-free’ method using nothing but a scarf. By cleverly securing the phone to her head with the scarf, she ensured it stayed in place throughout her journey. It’s a bit like wrapping a polythene bag with a knot on top, except in this case, the protagonist is fashioning a makeshift hands-free device out of cloth—quite the spectacle indeed.

However, alongside the amusement, the video also raised valid concerns about the hazards of distracted driving.

Also Read: Why Peak Bengaluru is More Than Just ‘Jugaad’ Picture of the City

Originally posted on Instagram, the clip has now sparked a debate on road safety. As the OP aptly put it: “I wonder how the lady even thought of doing this when the traffic police is stationed pretty much everywhere in the city and AI cameras installed in several places. Not sure if I should call this innovation a jugaad or something but this is for all the wrong reasons!”

The incident, which unfolded near Vidyaranyapura, opposite NTI grounds in Bengaluru on March 26 at 5 p.m., prompted a call to action as Bengaluru police were tagged to investigate.

Meanwhile, voices on the internet weighed in. “There’s nothing hilarious about putting others lives in danger,” one user rightly pointed out. Another condemned the act as sheer stupidity, writing, “Not innovation, not jugaad. Its stupidity. This is a common practice by almost all delivery partners for food and goods. What is more concerning is people put neckband earphones on which will block sounds from surroundings. These are the ones that ride like maniacs all the time.”

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Since its upload, the post has garnered over 16K views on the platform, sparking a mix of reactions from viewers.