FAMOUS American traffic judge Frank Caprio, and his live-streaming reality show Caught in Providence may well be a source of learning for our country’s people and policymakers.
The programme shows that total safety can be achieved through the partici-pation of all stakeholders of a society.
The trials in the programme often end up with no penalty if one breaks traffic rules with a valid reason, like no warning signs being in place.
Our country, in addition to extending mandatory training to drivers, can only ensure safe and effective traffic management by puting in place fast, simple and easy judicial trials for breach of rules, including, but not limited to, the traffic signal violation or speeding in school zones.
The provincial governments are also supposed to do road assessments and put all resources available, including the parapet walls (where necessary), zebra crossings, warning signs and traffic signs, and to ensure prompt repair of potholes.
All this is essential so that we are able to enforce good traffic management in the country, especially in metropolitan cities, like, say, Karachi, where poor traffic management is becoming a never-ending headache.
Our traffic police department and all the relevant policymakers should watch this important and interesting television programme that may possibly and positively influence the existing system.
Shahzad Ali Channa
Karachi
Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024
