Jaywalking

Letter December 05, 2016
More than Rs260 million have been spent on constructing footbridges that are most likely to go to waste

KARACHI: Jaywalking is a common occurrence in our country, especially in Karachi, even where overhead pedestrian bridges and other means of crossing the road are available. Some roads have been upgraded with railings or barriers built in the centre to discourage jaywalkers but people still take advantage of the openings that the centre barriers have where they are connected to the street light poles.

More than Rs260 million have been spent on constructing footbridges that are most likely to go to waste. In 2011, more than 400 pedestrians were killed in Karachi alone — most of them on the National Highway, Shahrae Faisal and on Korangi Industrial Area Road. Our people always try to find shortcut in everything but then their own lives get cut short. There can be no shortcuts when it comes to safety, especially in a city that sees following traffic rules as optional. Our government should impose strict jaywalking laws with the help of city officials. To discourage the dangerous act, a fine should be imposed by traffic policemen.

Mohammad Arsalan Ahmed

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2016.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.