KARACHI:
For the past decade, motorcyclists and pillion riders including women and children have frequently gotten into dangerous accidents at the railway crossing on the underpass of Jhelum Road in Rawalpindi. Considering that I live near the railway crossing, I frequently witness many fatal accidents.
Despite being aware of the risks at the crossing, motorcyclists continue to drive carelessly. Rescue 1122 teams attend to minor injuries, but often victims who have sustained serious injuries need to be shifted to hospitals. Rescue 1122’s records reveal the high number of fatalities that occur each year. The relevant municipal authorities can tackle this issue by installing reflective lights or boards close to the underpass signalling motorcyclists to slow down and instruct them to cross the railway track near the left end of the crossing. Motorcyclists should also be directed to drive cautiously near cuttings and crossings to avoid the risk of accidents.
M. Akram Niazi
Rawalpindi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 4th, 2023.
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