Tracking traffic violators

While camera-assisted e-ticketing traffic management and surveillance system is nothing novel even to many a developing country, it is like a blot from the blue to motorists in Karachi who have hitherto been left virtually unstrained on the roads and highways in terms of speeding above the limit, driving without a licence, avoiding use of seatbelt and helmet while driving, overloading the vehicle, jumping the red light, parking illegally, etc. No wonder that within just six hours of the launch of TRACS (Traffic Regulation and Citation System) in the megalopolis, on Tuesday, as many as 2,662 traffic rules violations were recorded, eliciting Rs12.5 million in fines.

These seven and a half violations per minute offers an unquestionable justification of the strict deterrent system that has been put in place by the provincial authorities, but that is sadly being dismissed by Karachiites, in general, as dishonest, illegitimate, ruthless and even discriminatory and vindictive. But to be fair with the motorists in Karachi who have long been enjoying a free rein on roads – except for dealing with cheaply bribable traffic cops – the displeasure and disapproval is pretty understandable, more so because of the poor road infrastructure and the missing road safety paraphernalia as well as the suddenness of the highly punitive move.

While Karachiites will obviously take time to come to terms with the new tech-driven traffic control system, the Government of Sindh must be appreciated for this long overdue reform which is expected to do away with "human discretion, confrontation and potential bias and ensure fairness and accountability on the roads", besides helping address chaos, confusion and disorder on the roads. On the flip side though, investing in the road infrastructure to turn Karachi into a smart city free from traffic hassles cannot be overemphasised.

By the way, one wonders whether there were any dump truck drivers among the 2,662 violators detected with the first six hours of the launch of TRACS!