
KARACHI:
Considering Pakistan’s conservative culture, women have little freedom and autonomy. Many common activities such as riding a motorcycle were considered taboo and unacceptable for women until recently. Pakistani women face many challenges when commuting for education, work, etc due to the absence of an efficient mass transit system.
Travelling on crowded buses is risky as passengers have to wait for the buses for long hours and walk long distances to and from their stops. Most women experience some form of harassment and abuse during their commute on public transport. Given that a significant proportion of women belong to lower-income groups, hiring a private cab service or purchasing cars is an unaffordable option. Therefore, many women are now resorting to purchasing motorcycles as it is a more budget-friendly option.
It’s a reassuring sight to witness young girls and women driving motorcycles on the road. Nonetheless, I want to highlight an important safety issue here which is that majority of the female riders do not wear helmets. In an event of a crash or collision, injuries sustained in motorcycles tend to be more severe and potentially deadly than in other types of motor vehicle accidents. Research has shown that helmets significantly reduce the risk of head injuries and fatalities. Helmets also act as a buffer to filter out unnecessary noises that distract one from driving. All female motorcyclists should wear helmets. The relevant authorities must run a media campaign highlighting the importance of wearing helmets regardless of gender.
Umar Khalid Dar
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2022.
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