Madness on the Road
Road accidents taking precious lives have become a common feature.
These grisly incidents occur more often than not either through overspeeding or violation of traffic regulations, i.e., plying unfit vehicles or bringing heavy traffic such as dumpers in daytime on the roads despite a ban by the city government.
Overspeeding is mostly on account of untrained and unlicensed drivers.
Besides, the cleaners or helpers of vehicles, who are undistinguishable because of lack of specific badge or uniform, are allowed to hold steering. Such drivers are security hazards.
The antediluvian vehicles plied on the road are mostly out of shape and unfit because of lack of proper maintenance. For instance, in Karachi alone more than 80 per cent buses and mini-buses, owned privately, are, on the face of it, eligible for junkyards but are seen plying, emitting toxic fumes etc.
Road safety in the country, in general, and in big cities like Karachi, in particular, has been worsening day by day. When an incident is reported in the media, a message is passed on to the world about the apathy of our law enforcers and society as a whole because even a single fatality deprives a family of not only a near and dear one but in most cases a bread winner, thus destroying it emotionally and economically.
In order to make our roads secure for travel, it is proposed that the following measures should be adopted:
a. A uniform code should be established for the driver, allowing him a badge number, and his record, with fingerprints, be preserved so that in case of negligence he can be recognised and disqualified from driving.
b. Licences should be issued after proper tests and verification of record of the applicants. In case any licence is issued in violation of rules, the issuing authorities should be held responsible.
c. A vehicle plying on the road should be allowed only if it carries fitness certificate, duly displayed on the rear screen.
d. Vehicles plying on highways should immediately be asked to provide rear door etc. Besides, TV sets be removed as the music creates obstruction in driving.
e. The officer-in-charge of the area should be held responsible in case an accident occurs in his jurisdiction.
f. Owners of unfit vehicles should also be held accountable and in case of any accident be held responsible for financially compensating the bereaved family.
g. All heavy traffic should immediately be banned from 7am to 10pm and compliance enforced strictly. For any violation, the administration-in-charge of the area should be held responsible.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/04/26/letted.htm#6