An announcement made by the City Traffic Police Lahore regarding the launch of a massive crackdown from September 1 on underage drivers can only be welcomed. In Lahore, roads are choked with traffic due to the presence of hundreds of bikes and cars. The city has been facing a traffic mess since long and the problem is aggravating day by day. Serious efforts as well as thoughtful planning are required to end traffic woes. Underage drivers riding vehicles and motorbikes pose a serious threat to not only their own life but other road users also. The statistics regarding traffic rules violations, accidents and arrests for indulging in wheelies portray a dismal picture. There is a lack of civic sense regarding traffic rules in general that has created a mess. Not only underage drivers but mature commuters never care about road safety rules. Every time one comes on the road, one needs to be extra cautious in order to save one’s life as well as others’. Bad driver behaviour is the main cause of road accidents. The concerned authorities need to educate people and pay more attention to the process of issuing driving licences. Nobody should be issued a driving licence unless he clears the test. Unfortunately, there is a lack of transparency as the traffic police mostly relies on paper work. A driving licence must be issued after testing the driving skills of the candidates.
There is another phenomenon regarding the behaviour of the guardians of thelaw. Those tasked with managing traffic on the roads take action against any violation of traffic rules by using their own discretion instead of following the law. It is up to a traffic warden how he decides in case he catches a violator of traffic rules. For different persons different rules are applied that means violators are treated according to their status in society. Other factors equally contribute to the traffic chaos in the city. There is a mushroom growth of vehicles due to increasing population and lack of urban planning. Traffic snarls up in most parts of the city due to encroachments and makeshift stalls on various roads. The plying of Chingchi rickshaws has worsened the situation. In order to solve this problem, the government, concerned authorities and the general public should act responsibly. The increasing number of private vehicles should be reduced and a comprehensive public transport system should be introduced. Heavy penalties and strict punishment should be awarded to the people who violate traffic rules without any discrimination. *