The word Traffic in English is taken from the Arabic word taraffaqa, which means to walk along slowly together. Traffic binds the commuting network all across the world. Most of the road accidents that occur in Pakistan, including fatal ones, are a result of traffic law violations. Even otherwise, if no accident takes place still driving on roads in Pakistan is a job that leaves one in anxiety because most of the drivers are least bothered about observing rules. Traffic in Pakistan seems to get worse by the day. It’s not that the authorities have kept a blind eye towards the menacing issue on the rise. Efforts by the traffic police are commendable to deal with the mammoth flow of vehicles during peak rush hours. On the other hand, it has more to do with the public at large who are oblivious about the rules and regulations put forward by the traffic police.
As responsible citizens of this country it is our foremost duty to abide by the laws, rules and regulations put on us. This is civic sense, which is being practiced by all the citizens of this world in whichever country they reside.
Reckless driving, underage drivers, jam-packed vehicles, ill-trained drivers, lust for earning more money by overloading commuters, out-lived vehicles mostly owned by sets of elite class; flabbiness by those responsible to check the plying buses, coasters, vans, wagons and even cars, non-implementation of traffic rules by the authorities concerned with multiple identical critical aspects like rampant corruption backed by the vile of pecuniary frustration are deemed to be the root causes of almost all the road accidents, which have, in a way, become a routine in our lives.
Reckless driving, underage drivers, jam-packed vehicles, ill-trained drivers, lust for earning more money by overloading commuters, out-lived vehicles mostly owned by sets of elite class; flabbiness by those responsible to check the plying buses, coasters, vans, wagons and even cars, non-implementation of traffic rules by the authorities concerned with multiple identical critical aspects like rampant corruption backed by the vile of pecuniary frustration are deemed to be the root causes of almost all the road accidents, which have, in a way, become a routine in our lives.
A majority of the traffic law violators are the commercial drivers. All are mostly uneducated and have no idea about traffic rules and regulations. Even educated lot, for some reasons, ignore the traffic rules by taking wrong turns, going on the wrong side and in opposite direction on double roads, driving in wrong lanes, breaking signals, usurping rights of pedestrians, bicycle and motorcycle riders. The worst breaking of rules happens at night when the traffic signals aren’t operating and there are no wardens on duty.
Juvenile drivers too are visible on the roads in Pakistan with notable offences. Single wheeling youngsters on motorbikes flaunting their abilities have injured many who come in their way. In other instances they take out their parent’s vehicles to drive on their own, with no license they are visibly over speeding around the city limits with confidence that surpasses a mountain! Such underage offenders should be reprimanded, their parents put through penalty, or their car impounded. They are not only a hazard to themselves but also for those who come into direct contact with their reckless driving abilities. They blatantly move around as if they are above the clutches of law. At home, parents should take strict notice of prohibiting their juveniles from driving. A responsible action needs to be administered by the parents in this respect.
Juvenile drivers too are visible on the roads in Pakistan with notable offences. Single wheeling youngsters on motorbikes flaunting their abilities have injured many who come in their way. In other instances they take out their parent’s vehicles to drive on their own, with no license they are visibly over speeding around the city limits with confidence that surpasses a mountain! Such underage offenders should be reprimanded, their parents put through penalty, or their car impounded. They are not only a hazard to themselves but also for those who come into direct contact with their reckless driving abilities. They blatantly move around as if they are above the clutches of law. At home, parents should take strict notice of prohibiting their juveniles from driving. A responsible action needs to be administered by the parents in this respect.
Getting driving license in the country is said to be done on the basis of a test taken by the licensing authority but unfortunately citizens usually require no driving skills or knowledge of traffic rules rather it requires acquaintance with the traffic police officials and the guts and audacity to bribe.
A media report suggests that traffic rules violation and lack of adequate road safety standards in the country claimed 45,000 lives in 90,000 road accidents during the last nine years causing a loss of approximately Rs.5 million annually. Every year 1.7 million people die in road mishaps around the world. About 70 per cent deaths occur in the developing countries, out of which 65 per cent involve pedestrians, 35 per cent of them children. Besides, over 10 million people are maimed or gravely injured each year, the report suggests.
A third world country like Pakistan is facing the world’s ninth biggest life-threatening problem, traffic accidents. About 87 percent accidents happened due to the negligence of drivers that were over-speeding, overloading, wrong overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
There are several other traffic rule violations & factors which are a cause of road accidents in the country. Most vehicles use blazing headlights during the night which dazzle the driver coming from the opposite direction and this sometimes result in a head-on collision. Zebra crossing is ignored by some drivers. They do not reduce the speed when they are close to it. People are seen using mobile phones while driving with the careless note to the public around which also cause accidents.
A media report suggests that traffic rules violation and lack of adequate road safety standards in the country claimed 45,000 lives in 90,000 road accidents during the last nine years causing a loss of approximately Rs.5 million annually. Every year 1.7 million people die in road mishaps around the world. About 70 per cent deaths occur in the developing countries, out of which 65 per cent involve pedestrians, 35 per cent of them children. Besides, over 10 million people are maimed or gravely injured each year, the report suggests.
A third world country like Pakistan is facing the world’s ninth biggest life-threatening problem, traffic accidents. About 87 percent accidents happened due to the negligence of drivers that were over-speeding, overloading, wrong overtaking and driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
There are several other traffic rule violations & factors which are a cause of road accidents in the country. Most vehicles use blazing headlights during the night which dazzle the driver coming from the opposite direction and this sometimes result in a head-on collision. Zebra crossing is ignored by some drivers. They do not reduce the speed when they are close to it. People are seen using mobile phones while driving with the careless note to the public around which also cause accidents.
Speed breakers put on major traffic areas have also proved to be useful in bringing down speed of motorists and other vehicles. Hence: Ensuring safety for the citizens commuting on foot or other less protected modes of transport. Today we have better technology in braking systems and at least 20 times more traffic on roads than decades ago when these traffic rules were framed.
In comparison to other countries, the rules of the road are codified, setting out the legal requirements and punishments for breaking them. Lets see how::
In the United Kingdom, for instance the rules are set out in the Highway Code, which includes obligations but also advice on how to drive sensibly and safely for the citizens.
In the United States, traffic laws are regulated by the states and municipalities through their respective traffic codes. Most of these are based at least in part on the Uniform Vehicle Code, but there are variations from state to state. In states such as Florida, traffic law and criminal law are separate; therefore, unless someone flees a scene of an accident, commits vehicular homicide or manslaughter, they are only guilty of a minor traffic offense. In Australia, traveling in any lane other than the "slow" lane with a speed limit at or above 80 km/h (50 mph) is an offence.
In more sophisticated systems such as large cities, this concept is further extended: some streets are marked as being one-way, and on those streets all traffic must flow in only one direction, but pedestrians on the sidewalks are generally not limited to one-way movement. A driver wishing to reach a destination he already passed must use other streets in order to return. Usage of one-way streets, despite the inconveniences it can bring to individual drivers, can greatly improve traffic flow since they usually allow traffic to move faster and tend to simplify intersections.
During the week days in most major cities, traffic congestion reaches great intensity at predictable times of the day due to the large number of vehicles using the road at the same time. This phenomenon is called rush hour or the peak hour, although the period of high traffic intensity often exceeds one hour. To override the rush hour for example, in São Paulo, Manila and in Mexico City, each vehicle has a specific day of the week in which it is forbidden from traveling on the roads during rush hour. The day for each vehicle is taken from the license plate number, and this rule is enforced by traffic police and also by hundreds of strategically positioned traffic cameras backed by computerized image-recognition systems that issue tickets to offending drivers.
If one analyses in Pakistan, it is very clear that proper Highway Code rules are applied on the Motorway, where drivers abide Highway code and the Motorway police stays vigilant in apprehending the offenders. A proper speed limit for LTV and HTV is observed, where changing lanes with indicators for left and right are used and caution is practiced by the drivers. Wearing a seat belt is mandatory; followed by whosoever is travelling on this route. If complete abiding of rules and regulations are practiced by motorists everyday on the Motorway, why not in the inter city routes?
In Pakistan the citizens of this country can help improve with collateral effort. Authorities alone cannot function correctly unless we start practicing responsible behavior. Correction always starts at home on individual level; abiding of rules and regulations not only inculcates a reliable and an accountable attitude but it also improves the quality of life for people around us. Think about it.
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