Killer tankers
From January 1 to October 31 this year, as many as 154 lives have been lost in road accidents in Karachi with the culprits in most cases being water tankers and majority of the victims being motorcyclists and pillion riders, according to statistics collected by traffic officials and hospitals. In some accidents, several members of one family have died. This loss of many precious lives is largely the result of negligence. In most countries of the world, water is supplied through underground pipelines, but in the biggest city of Pakistan a major amount of water is supplied in tankers overland, and the trend has been on the upswing with the passage of time, bringing an ever-increasing number of water tankers onto roads. This is resulting in an ever-increasing number of deaths on the road. Now more than 8,000 water tankers are operating in the city.
Unlike other heavy vehicles that are allowed inside the city limits within certain hours, there are no such restrictions on the movement of water tankers and dumpers within the city. These heavy vehicles can ply the city roads all 24 hours, and most of them are recklessly driven. Daily experience bears it out that drivers of these vehicles enjoy complete freedom from official control. This unrestricted freedom is resulting in deaths and injuries to innocent people. Often their speed matches that of ambulances. The latter, though, have to be run fast as they have to save lives. But the former snuff out lives.
Officials are of the opinion that most accidents occur due to ignorance of traffic laws both on the part of tanker drivers and motorcyclists. They say some motorcyclists engage in over-speeding and some also in manoeuvering. This is true to some extent, but it is inconceivable that motorcyclists will engage in speeding while carrying family members. The whole thing points to a lack of strict and proper enforcement of traffic rules. It is the fear of losing livelihood that restrains workmen from frauds and corrects their negligence and behaviour.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2020.
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