Turning the spotlight on Karachi’s road safety issues
Karachi is one of the most desirable metropolitan cities in Pakistan to live in. People from different parts of Pakistan migrate to Karachi for better job opportunities, improved lifestyles, and the amenities of a big city. In the past few decades, the population of Karachi has increased exponentially, from 12,612,000 to 16,840,000 in just the last 12 years. This shows how many people have already migrated to Karachi with many more still desiring to do so.
This rapid increase also means that the infrastructure of the City of Lights, as Karachi is fondly called, is deteriorating constantly as it tries to keep up with the demands of this steady influx of people. Every city has a few downsides and Karachi is no different. Many issues are faced by the residents of Karachi aka Karachi’ites. With the exponential increase of the population in Karachi, traffic has drastically burgeoned, and every day, people are stuck in traffic jams for hours. The day starts with severe traffic jams and ends with the same. It looks like Karachi has more vehicles roaming on the roads than crows flying in the sky.
It is obvious that with heavy traffic on the roads 24/7, the conditions of roads are worsening as well. In addition to that, the recent rainfalls in Karachi have created a chaotic mess as well. Roads are now damaged beyond repair. A combination of rash driving and bumpy roads means that Karachi’ites end up in accidents quite frequently. Hence, road safety is a pressing concern for the residents of Karachi. Road safety is a cause that is being seriously taken up by businesses, individuals and governments in other parts of the world.
In Pakistan, it is about time that we realised the significance and the need for road safety. There are so many ways that we can help in embracing road safety, and they are very easy to adopt in daily life. By adopting just a few basic practices, road safety can be followed. Here are a few precautions that can be taken to adopt road safety. Wear a seatbelt: Life is a gift, and one should not take it for granted. It is advised to wear a seatbelt while driving the car. There are times when sudden breaks can cause accidents and such situations are harmful to individuals.
Drive slow and safe: ‘Speed thrills but kills’ — a statement that can be seen everywhere in Karachi. It is one’s responsibility to take it seriously and drive safely. Many accidents take place because of rash driving. Driving at a speed that is manageable by the driver is suggested. Don’t rush and always obey the traffic signals: Signals are there for a reason, and that is the reason why following signals and rules is very essential. It is advised to obey signals even when no one is around. Keep a distance: Keeping a safe distance between the two cars, ahead and behind, is a great safety precaution.
In a city like Karachi, where traffic is bumperto-bumper jammed, safe distance can be a major factor in minimising road accidents. Road safety is of great importance and should not be overlooked. One can see the harm that lack of road safety can cause during an accident. The lives of many people have drastically changed because of unfortunate accidents due to personal carelessness and bad infrastructure in Karachi. Together, both individuals and businesses can improve road safety by coming forward and supporting the city government. It’s a long-term commitment but is certainly doable and achievable. Let’s build a safer Karachi together!