From my old blog posted at: https://ufqblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/traffic-conditions-and-our-apathy/
Visit any part of the country and see for your self if what I am about to write is true or not. It is needless to say that we are a disorganized care free lawless bunch of citizens out there. Oh but maybe we are just so involved in our own selves that we have just stopped caring about safe driving. Some of what anyone can witness on any road / street in the country or even national highways is as follows:
The actual responsibility lies with the law enforcement because they are paid for it. Unfortunately they are least concerned. however, it does not absolve the responsibility of the civil society and family units in identifying the reckless behavior of the drivers in their family.
There needs to be a major campaign on all TV / radio channels as well as effective communication to the people to educate them on the reasons for making the various rules and laws, and their importance. Although some attempts at this have been made in the past, however, lack of imposition of fines is the real issue here. The fines are so outdated, that they sound really ridiculous. The fines / penalties must be revised and updated to meet current and future needs. This collection will also provide much needed cash to the governments.
A portion of the collection may be shared with the law enforcement to encourage enforcement.
On another front, the government should try and use technology for the aid of the law enforcement officers, such as the use of smart phones, where the officer could use an application that would take the picture of the violator, and send it to a central record office, and the ticket issued, could be recorded with Nadra for a certain time. Multiple violations, non payments and a host of other useful data could be generated. This data could be used in future such as time of issuing a new license, cnic card, or by insurance companies.
There could be new laws passed by our government, that help increase safety and security and help save lives, and bodily harm to the humans that ply the roads of the country. One such simple law could be to encourage the use of parking lights after Asr prayers, and mandatory use of proper front and rear lights on all types of vehicles. Use of head lamps should also be made mandatory during rain and foggy conditions. A slogan used in New Jersey is “Wipers on – Lights on”
any more ideas and suggestions that result in making our roads safer for everyone would be welcome as comments
Visit any part of the country and see for your self if what I am about to write is true or not. It is needless to say that we are a disorganized care free lawless bunch of citizens out there. Oh but maybe we are just so involved in our own selves that we have just stopped caring about safe driving. Some of what anyone can witness on any road / street in the country or even national highways is as follows:
- Underage bike riders, esp school kids in uniform with their school bags, somethings carrying multiple pillion riders along. Of course no helmets, for helmets are to be kept on the fuel tank or hanging on the front head light.
- Infants and/or young children in the laps of the driver, teaching the kid from early on that it is okay to be an idiot and a law breaker.
- Children driving cars with or without an adult.
- Colored headlamps and use of full beam at night. No respect for the oncoming traffic
- Use of dark tinted windows to hide the occupants
- No respect of the halt line at traffic stops.
- Running past a red signal even when fasting, with the priest like attire and coming from the masjid.
- Over speeding by the rich spoiled brats. for those who know will agree over speeding is grossly an understatement.
- Overtaking from the wrong side (left side for Pakistan).
- Honking, flashing at the vehicle ahead of you, as if they were in a rush to get to the nearest rest room., in fear of fouling the interior of their vehicle.
- Missing or non operational rear lights (tail lamps) esp on rickshaws, motor cycles, and public vehicles.
- Non use of lights in basements and parking lots.
- Hesitation of switching on the lights at dawn and dusk, as if doing so will add to their electricity bills
- Despite the threats of terrorists or criminals playing havoc, no license plates (number plates) are a common factor on motor bikes, and most vehicles.
- Fashion of fancy number plates, mostly where the number is hardly
legible, or of such a curved shape, that make them easily readable
. - Moving your bike / vehicle ahead and sometime almost into the middle of the other road, just waiting for your signal to green.
- Riding or driving in the wrong direction of the road, even if it is a highway
The actual responsibility lies with the law enforcement because they are paid for it. Unfortunately they are least concerned. however, it does not absolve the responsibility of the civil society and family units in identifying the reckless behavior of the drivers in their family.
There needs to be a major campaign on all TV / radio channels as well as effective communication to the people to educate them on the reasons for making the various rules and laws, and their importance. Although some attempts at this have been made in the past, however, lack of imposition of fines is the real issue here. The fines are so outdated, that they sound really ridiculous. The fines / penalties must be revised and updated to meet current and future needs. This collection will also provide much needed cash to the governments.
A portion of the collection may be shared with the law enforcement to encourage enforcement.
On another front, the government should try and use technology for the aid of the law enforcement officers, such as the use of smart phones, where the officer could use an application that would take the picture of the violator, and send it to a central record office, and the ticket issued, could be recorded with Nadra for a certain time. Multiple violations, non payments and a host of other useful data could be generated. This data could be used in future such as time of issuing a new license, cnic card, or by insurance companies.
There could be new laws passed by our government, that help increase safety and security and help save lives, and bodily harm to the humans that ply the roads of the country. One such simple law could be to encourage the use of parking lights after Asr prayers, and mandatory use of proper front and rear lights on all types of vehicles. Use of head lamps should also be made mandatory during rain and foggy conditions. A slogan used in New Jersey is “Wipers on – Lights on”
any more ideas and suggestions that result in making our roads safer for everyone would be welcome as comments
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