Under age drivers: Lack of rules worsening traffic woes

by Tauqeer Abbas
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underage

City traffic police will launch a massive crackdown on underage drivers from September to discourage the practice, Lahore chief traffic officer said on Tuesday. Tayyab Hafeez Cheema while addressing a news conference at his office said the police prepared a comprehensive plan to strict take action against the underage drivers, particularly motorcyclists and motorcycle-rickshaw drivers. He said that an awareness campaign had already been launched to discourage the practice of underage driving. The police arranged special lectures besides distributing pamphlets and setting up camps to educate the motorists. “We have decided to kick start a clampdown on underage drivers from September 1st. We have to control accidents to save precious lives. The trend of under age driving is very dangerous,” Hafeez said.  Responding to a question, he said the traffic police had booked 926 motorcyclists for defying ban on one-wheeling during the last two weeks. The traffic wardens are also directed to take action against the drivers, who are traveling on city roads without valid driving licenses. The statistics regarding traffic rules violations, accidents and arrests for indulging in wheelies portray a dismal picture. There is a lack of civic sense regarding traffic rules in general that has created a mess. Not only underage drivers but mature commuters never care about road safety rules. Every time one comes on the road, one needs to be extra cautious in order to save one’s life as well as others’. Bad driver behaviour is the main cause of road accidents. The concerned authorities need to educate people and pay more attention to the process of issuing driving licences. Nobody should be issued a driving licence unless he clears the test. Unfortunately, there is a lack of transparency as the traffic police mostly relies on paper work. A driving licence must be issued after testing the driving skills of the candidates. There is another phenomenon regarding the behaviour of the guardians of thelaw. Those tasked with managing traffic on the roads take action against any violation of traffic rules by using their own discretion instead of following the law. It is up to a traffic warden how he decides in case he catches a violator of traffic rules. For different persons different rules are applied that means violators are treated according to their status in society. Other factors equally contribute to the traffic chaos in the city. There is a mushroom growth of vehicles due to increasing population and lack of urban planning. Traffic snarls up in most parts of the city due to encroachments and makeshift stalls on various roads. The plying of Chingchi rickshaws has worsened the situation. In order to solve this problem, the government, concerned authorities and the general public should act responsibly. The increasing number of private vehicles should be reduced and a comprehensive public transport system should be introduced. Heavy penalties and strict punishment should be awarded to the people who violate traffic rules without any discrimination.

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