OPINION: Dengue and dumpers

It will not be wrong to say that Karachi is in the grip of Dengue and dumpers, both claiming precious lives. If it is not dumpers, it is water tankers that are adding to the tally of death nearly every day. All this is going on while the city is in the grip of e-Ticketing fever and the emphasis is on catching those who are driving around in high speed, going against the directions of one-way traffic and over-loading their vehicles.

There is also emphasis on wearing your seat belts and covering your head with a safety helmet in case you are driving a motorcycle. An interesting episode about wearing seat belts is doing the rounds. As per reports appearing in a section of the press, a gentleman received an e-challan for driving around without a seat belt, and he promptly challenged it as he was actually wearing a seat belt which was missed by the camera.

The officials were convinced after seeing the proof, but then they said the challan still stands, as the passenger in the car was not wearing a seat belt. This incident shows lack of ignorance on the part of drivers about the rules and regulations and any shortcomings the rules might have of which the common person is not aware. This incident shows that there are several rules which are not crisp and clear and can land an ordinary person into trouble.

The top most that comes to mind is the one about speeding. In western countries, speeding is easily enforced as there are signs indicating the speed limit all over the highways and in streets around the city.

Also, the police have hand-held speed radars that catch the speed of the traffic and as soon as someone is over speeding he or she is caught with proof that is shown to the erring driver on the spot. I am not aware of our traffic police equipped with any such speed radar, and very obviously there are not any indicators of speed limits in different areas of the city.

Another major problem with enforcement of new traffic rules are the frequent breakdowns of traffic signals. For the rest of the city it might not be a frequent occurrence but on Ittehad Avenue in DHA it is a daily test of vehicle drivers as many a times during the day the signals on some particular crossings turn red for all sides. People wait for a while then the more impatient start honking and finally some cross the red light horns blaring as there is no other recourse left.

Now the new cameras, if installed here, must be reaping a rich harvest of pictures showing violation of red lights. This is a posh area of the city so you can only consider how the less-privileged areas maintain their traffic signals and how accurate will be the pictures they are sending for imposition of traffic fines.

While there is a lot of emphasis on speed limits and traffic lights, there doesn’t seem to be any emphasis on basic elements that really matter. There is for example the question of mostly motorcyclists running around without any lights at all except a dim light in the front.

The most important one missing is the indicator-light that warns drivers behind you of your intentions to turn right or left or just go straight. Also, what needs to be emphasized is that all drivers driving cars or motorcycles must overtake safely.

The most dangerous feat is to try to overtake by squeezing in the same direction the person in front of you has indicated that he or she will turn. This is especially lethal for motorcycle riders, who are so vulnerable to such manoeuvres. If you look at records of accidents mostly involving motorcycles you will realize that a large number of them occurred because the motorcycle driver ignored the intention of the car in front of him to make a turn and in spite of clear indication kept going, resulting in horrific results.

Something that makes me wonder is why this sudden emphasis on speeding, jumping a red light and other similar violations committed by motorists and motorcyclists. The hue and cry as far as I remember was over dumpers, water tankers and other such vehicles running down motorcyclists and pedestrians. Anyone bothered about that anymore?

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