KARACHI:
Burewala, a comparatively small city with a limited population, is no exception to the many social evils that are found elsewhere in the country, or elsewhere in the sub-continent. One of these includes reckless driving amongst teenagers and young adults in the city as well as the suburbs. Teenagers driving cars, riding motorbikes and rickshaws have become a cause for great displeasure for citizens lately.
Given their young age, most drivers have an irresponsible and careless attitude towards the road and the safety of other road users. They drive recklessly and obstruct the traffic. Consequently, there have been several fatal accidents in the city. Much of the time, the fatalities of the accident are such that it becomes difficult to identify the drivers of both vehicles. At times, children are also victimised by such accidents and sustain serious injuries. It is imperative to ensure that younger drivers are not given the responsibility of driving school or college vans and buses.
The only effective strategy to curb this menace is two-fold. Firstly, parents should prevent children from underage driving and teenagers should be encouraged to drive safely. Also, the traffic police and district officials in Vehari should ensure strict action against underage drivers, and those involved in accidents should be either fined or punished. Although this may not alleviate this social menace, it can prove to be a stepping stone towards establishing a society based on the rule of law.
Muhammad Umair
Burewala
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2021.
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