I request you to order the use of wing mirrors compulsory for motorcyclists.
SYDNEY: Respected chief minister of Punjab,
A mere ‘thank you’ is not enough to convey my appreciation for you. Before proceeding further, I want to congratulate you on the outstanding and extraordinary efforts that you are making for the prosperity of Pakistan. Everything seems to work well and, of course, has been meticulously done.
Realising your efforts, I want to give you a suggestion. Although it’s a very small contribution from my side, if you pay heed to this suggestion and initiate action on it, then hopefully it will become a huge revolutionary change for Pakistan.
There are certain issues that are left unnoticed and I want to draw your attention towards a common issue — road accidents of motorcyclists. A majority of our people are living on or below the poverty line and can barely make ends meet. They cannot afford cars, even the cheapest one. People prefer motorcycles to cars because the former is cheaper and uses less fuel.
But motorcycles are quite unprotected since they have no metal cage to ensure the rider’s safety and lack many other safety gadgets such as windshields, airbags, belts etc. The use of a side mirror can also greatly lessen the ratio of accidents. Unlike a car, a motorcycle does not have straight rear-view mirrors. Wing mirrors must be used instead. But unfortunately, some drivers are reckless and do not use wing mirrors.
I request you to order the use of wing mirrors compulsory for motorcyclists. If not two, then at least one mirror should be installed on every bike.
Usman Nasarullah Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2014.
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