Although traffic accidents are a routine matter for Karachiites, if they are analyzed, some very bitter facts are likely to emerge. The high incidence of traffic accidents is not only a symbol of lawlessness, it also shows the carelessness of the people. These accidents affect a number of families. Those who become victims of accidents leave behind an infinite series of afflictions and misfortunes.
According to unofficial sources, Karachi's population has crossed 14 million. During the last few years, a heavy increase has been seen in the purchase of private cars and other vehicles and, today, the amount of light and heavy traffic plying on the roads of Karachi has reached up to 1.8 million. Due to this increase, problems like traffic jams, environmental and noise pollution, manhandling and use of abusive language and exchange of hot words among commuters and drivers, etc. have grown as well as the frequency of fatal traffic accidents. Unfortunately, this problem is intensifying every day. Some of the reasons for these accidents are dilapidated roads, an increased number of vehicles, reckless driving and the carelessness of pedestrians and motorcyclists. Today, if the roads are seen filled with traffic, the areas around shopping centers, amusement parks, playgrounds, schools, hospitals, etc. are also packed with parked vehicles in large numbers.
In the era of the former Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, Green buses and UTS buses had been plied on various routes of Karachi. Due to the use of CNG, the green buses were considered environment-friendly but the project never fully materialized due to various reasons. Most of the UTS buses, instead of CNG, continued using diesel which was not only more expensive than CNG but also harmful for the environment. Unluckily, these buses vanished from the roads and a number of buses were either set on fire or destroyed by miscreants as a sequel to a clash, rivalry or political unrest and hence the hopes of the Karachiites, that they would enjoy a comfortable journey and an environment-friendly transport system, were ruined.
And so, an excellent transport project was put in cold storage but now, once again, an announcement of plying CNG buses in nine major cities of Pakistan has been made by the government. This announcement is a ray of hope and must be appreciated as the public transport issue in Karachi has taken a complicated shape and commuters are compelled to travel by sitting on the rooftops of buses, minibuses and coaches. Due to this situation, a number of fatal and tragic incidents have occurred. Although the transport-stricken masses have welcomed the announcement, their happiness may be short-lived as they have already heard this before. They are given the good news of the "arrival" of 5,000 CNG buses in the country or are shown a ray of hope that a contract of public interest and welfare is being signed with foreign companies, but all these announcements and claims prove to be confined to newspapers only, never materializing to actually benefit the people.
Whether monsoon or winter, Karachi's citizens have to travel in outdated and uncomfortable wagons, coaches and buses in which most of the seats are torn, the ceilings broken, the holding rods and grills rusty... The seats are so narrow that two passengers cannot sit comfortably on them. The holding rods for standing passengers are at a distance and the passenger has to bend his body on top of a sitting passenger to grab on to one - hence both are disturbed and uncomfortable - but this makes handsome money for the conductor as he has enough space to make three to four lines of passengers. The growing population and the dilapidation of public transport has made the journey in buses and wagons full of torment. Elderly people, youth, children - everyone is seen pushing others in search of a seat for himself. Vacating a seat for elders has now become a story of the past.
The dilapidation of the public transport system has put many citizens in mental, physical and psychological torment. The vehicles do not display the approved list of fares which leads to manhandling and scuffles between the passengers and conductors. Route numbers are not prominently displayed, creating problems for passengers as they either miss their bus or get on to one of another route. Some two decades ago, there was a proper system of issuing tickets to passengers and the conductors used to wear a ticket-bag containing tickets of different denominations, but now this practice has become obsolete. Most of the buses and minibuses violate rules by not completing their routes, especially at night, and the passengers are forced to alight half way through their journey from where they either have to catch another bus or pay a new fare to continue their journey in the same bus.
Most fatal accidents in the city are due to the overloaded dumpers, trucks and trawlers. A large number of commercial vehicles are being plied on the roads of Karachi without proper route permits. The owners and drivers of these vehicles avoid paying the government tax and fees in this regard and prefer to grease the palms of the traffic police whenever they are checked on the roads. They choose a route of their own accord and choice and overload the vehicle more than its capacity which causes accidents. Besides the malpractice and corruption of heavy traffic, the light public transport also does not lag behind. After the sky-rocketing raise in the price of petroleum products, taxi and rickshaw drivers are charging exorbitant fares - much more than the approved rates.
During the last few years, a remarkable increase in the trend of acquiring cars and motorcycles on bank loans has been reported. Citizens who can afford to pay an installment of a few thousand rupees per month will buy a car or motorcycle under different schemes. Besides commercial vehicles, motorcycles are also seen violating the laws of overloading. The basic reason for this is, no doubt, the shortage of public transport. If citizens are provided with comfortable, affordable and standard traveling facilities, they would avoid traveling on motorcycles.
Traffic running on the roads of the city does not abide by any traffic rules. The speed breakers built on the roads are not up to international standards and not only do they cause a hindrance in the smooth flow of traffic, but they also damage the vehicles. There are no traffic signals at various congested points. Most of the city land, and especially the commercial area, has been encroached upon, which causes traffic problems among a multitude of others. The drivers of public transport do not abide by traffic rules, especially the speed limit, and have made a number of bus stops of their own accord where the passengers are boarded and alighted. These unauthorized bus stops not only create a disturbance in the flow of traffic but also cause accidents.
Although the construction of signal-free corridors is a commendable step taken by the city government but due to the same, all U-turns and right turns have ceased. As a result, a large number of vehicles are seen plying on the wrong side of the roads. This practice also gives rise to traffic jams and accidents. The pedestrians have their own problems as in the campaign of expanding roads, pavements have simply been swallowed up. Similarly, the service roads close to a flyover or underpass have been converted into the main roads, leaving no room for pedestrians to move. Although a number of pedestrian bridges (overhead passages) have been constructed over the busiest roads of the city to facilitate pedestrians who wish to cross the roads without any fear, these bridges have become useless for the elderly, the sick, women and children. On the busiest roads, especially near bus stops and shopping centers, a proper arrangement for crossing the road should be made by posting a traffic policeman there for that express duty. Moreover attention should also be paid towards the substitute of U-turns and right turns. Although a modern system of U-turns has been introduced on a few city roads, the same system is also needed in many other places.
Despite a ban on the entrance of heavy traffic on city roads in the daytime, dumpers, trawlers, and trucks can be seen on city roads during the prohibited hours. The traffic police does stop them on this violation, but not to punish them according to the law rather to collect a "fine" on the spot. There is a dire need of implementing this law properly and forcefully if the government wants to curtail the rate of fatal accidents. It is also stated with authenticity that a few drivers take the wheel while intoxicated and most of the bus addas (bus terminus) have been taken over by drug sellers.
According to statistics obtained from the hospitals of the city, an average 100 major and minor accidents occur every day. Most of the victims are aged between 15 and 45 and a large number are the only bread earners of their family. The transporters, the intoxicated drivers and the authorities should pay heed towards this alarming situation. No doubt, if the drivers of public transport are held responsible for traffic accidents, the puerile youths are equally responsible, who show juggleries on their motorbikes on the busiest roads without taking care of their own and others' lives.
The responsibility of the government is to effectively monitor the spots and roads where accidents occur continuously, repair and carpet the dilapidated roads, repair and upgrade the signal systems, forcefully punish the law breakers and those traffic constables who ignore violations only to grease their palms. It is the responsibility of pedestrians and commuters to abide by traffic rules. It is the responsibility of parents not to give vehicles in the hands of their under-age children. If all segments of society realize their responsibilities, not only will our traffic problems be solved but also the rate of accidents will be curtailed.
