Our driving habits


June 05, 2010

“If you can drive in Karachi, you can drive anywhere else in the world”. This is the one advice that all of us have heard as amateur drivers, trying to get used to the reckless driving and the culture of ignoring traffic lights in our country. But it is true that most people in this city drive like lunatics — and so driving in London was like a walk in the (Hyde) park for me. Unfortunately, earlier this week, my ride to work morphed into a nightmare when I crossed paths with one such hooligan. A cheeky guy was recklessly driving his black Honda Civic – with dark, tinted windows – creating havoc on the street, and getting angry looks from others on the road in return. This was his, hopelessly ridiculous way of gaining attention, I assume. When my brother gestured at him as if to ask: “What’s wrong with you?” he got angry and started swaying his car in front of ours, trying to stop us by blocking our way, and seemed ready to pick a fight in one fell swoop.

When will people learn to drive more carefully? More importantly, when will they start driving in their own lane? Surely we all know that there are driving ethics, but is it all that complicated to understand and follow them, especially for the educated? Among others, if keeping in one’s lane is understood as being subsumed in the code of ethics, deaths caused by road accidents can be prevented. Aren’t we the same people who adopt and follow rules in a canter when we are abroad? So why can’t we do the same here? We must be hypocritical to the core. The awful driving habits of many are a shame we all have to bear, sometimes as a frightening experience, other times as the loss of a loved one, however reluctantly. It’s about time we wake up, smell the coffee and opt for some responsible driving.

Published  in the Express Tribune, June 6th, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Malik Rashid | 13 years ago | Reply Sadia Ahmed For an old taxi-driver who is on the road every single day for long hours in the city traffic, I have an advice for you. Those who express emotional driving are called 'garbage-truck' in our vernacular. These individuals, loaded with stinking anger and bitterness, look for a dump-site. They will like to heap some of their garbage on you by making you angry and bitter. The only response is to stay clear of danger and throw a hearty smile. The other comparison of driving compulsions in London or Karachi needs a look at traffic rules, road engineering and law-enforcement. Ford company started manufacturing in 1912. In the 70s, a rather affluent neighborhood in Karachi had a couple of cars only. The whole system is in its infancy for a comparison with developed countries. Peace.
Nadir El Edroos | 13 years ago | Reply A persons izzat is directly proportional to his ability to flaunt the law. We can die for our country, but following her laws, well that's another matter.
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