I AM appalled at reading the daily fatal road accidents. There are numerous causes like lack of education and training, narrow and poor road conditions, lack of signs and warning signs, lack of prosecution and deterrence to underage drivers, overloading of buses, motorcycles, etc.

I have observed motorcycles being used by milkmen carrying two or three big cans on either side of the vehicle on Sharae Faisal and other major roads. Parents ride with three or four children, with complete ignorance of hazards to the lives of their loved ones. Women travelling with loose clothings, which get entangled with the rear wheel. This results in serious injury or even death.

Most fatalities can be largely reduced by wearing helmets and seat belts. The latest head-on collision near Dadu between two cars killed four persons and injured many others. I can confidently say none of the travellers in the two cars were wearing seat belts.

I hope the media can help create awareness among the people about the benefit of using protective measures like wearing helmets and seat belts. It is recalled that Princess Diana would have survived had she been wearing the seat belt. Wearing of seat belts at least for drivers and front passenger must be made compulsory, or else a cognizable offence. Now the police check only the car driver, but not the passenger. Why?

Umair Ahmed

Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2018