Right or Privilege?

The 'Letters to the editor' page in a newspaper carried a letter where somebody mentioned that driving a car was a privilege and not a right.Did not agree with it then and that's reinforced over these past few day's.Out here in Pune, its almost a crime to drive a car.I'm sure it would be the same in most big cities in India.Order of preference on the road goes thus:Bicycles,mobikes,auto rickshaws,assorted 2-3-4 wheelers driven by unlicensed drivers and then after all that, come the private vehicles owned by you and me.Throw in the occasional bullock cart,horse,elephant,innumerable 'holy cow's' and countless stray dogs (courtesy the 'other' Mrs Gandhi).It's such a frustrating experience trying to navigate through all this and at the same time trying not to run over any of them that by the time one reaches home/office, one is totally stressed out.Add to this having to deal with the majority of the Pune population that does not believe in following any traffic rule and takes pride in not doing so, it's almost tempting not to venture out with the car.Get a bike and join the rule-breakers!!!
Coming back to the reader who said that car owners should consider it a privilege that they get to drive, this has to come from somebody who's not ever been behind the wheel.Privilege to drive a car, bought with one's hard owned money, on roads that are serviced and built with our taxes and for being a part of a tribe that more often than not, tries to follow traffic rules....the reader had to be out of her mind(yes!!!it was a lady...no surprises there:)) )

Thoughts/ opinions on the same or on anything else...views on Chak De...anything...pls contribute