Karachi's deadly drivers

Karachi sees a surge in traffic deaths, with reckless driving, unlicensed drivers, and lack of helmets.

Karachi has seen a sharp increase in traffic fatalities over the past three months, with police reporting that as many as 480 individuals lost their lives on the road. Almost half of these have been in the Keamari area and are being blamed on reckless driving by trucks and other heavy vehicles. However, it must be noted that some 57% of the victims were motorcyclists or people riding pillion, three-quarters of whom were not wearing helmets, and half did not even have driving licences.

In every country in the world, driving is a privilege, not a right. Most countries send people to jail for several months, and even a few years for driving without a licence. But not Pakistan. Although driving without a licence is a jailable offence here as well - up to six months imprisonment - the rare occasions on which the law has been applied was when a driver killed someone due to reckless driving. Since the penalty for causing death due to negligent driving is up to 10 years' imprisonment, the licensing offence is effectively moot, though it could be used by prosecutors to push for the maximum punishment.

Meanwhile, even the fine for driving without a licence is laughable - Rs2,000. Driving without a licence is not an 'honest mistake' like going a few kilometres over the speed limit or taking a turn without signalling; it is a wilful action, and should be punished as such. The fine for a first offence should be punitive, no matter what the offender's income bracket. The second offence should require jail time, no questions asked. Penalties should also be enhanced for people providing vehicles to unlicensed drivers, rising up to forfeiting the vehicle.

Similarly, driving without a helmet should be immediately arrestable. Citing affordability cannot be accepted as an excuse. Whether or not the government is living up to its responsibility to provide drivable roads and accessible public transportation are valid questions, but they do not excuse every citizen's civic responsibility.