Traffic congestion in Pakistan & Road Safety

Traffic Congestion in Pakistan

 &

Road Safety

What is Traffic?? 

Traffic is meant by " the automobiles that are running on roads and streets or everywhere " called traffic. 

There are many types of traffic in our way: 

1. Heavy Traffic 

2. Slow Traffic 

3. Random Traffic 

4. Controlled Traffic 

5. Arranged/ Coordinated Traffic 

Or something like that....  

Now we are going to explain some highlighted types or kinds a little bit.

First of all,  

1.Heavy Traffic 

Heavy traffic means " a lot of traffic,  excess of automobiles like cars, buses, cycles and bikes " are on roads in random way or lots of noise of vehicle's horns everywhere on roads are called heavy traffic. 

2. Slow Traffic 

It means a blocked or stopped traffic. Sometimes, we go out for some emergency but due to excess of traffic,  roads are blocked and traffic moves slowly like a slow move after 3-4 minutes.  It's called slow or blocked traffic. It's also called "traffic jam". 

3. Random traffic 

It means that "there is no arrangement and rule in traffic flow " which become a cause of many sudden happenings.  It's also a big reason of traffic jam and accidents.

4.Controlled Traffic 

It means " traffic flow which is controlled by some authority or under some supervision" 

Reduces traffic jams and accidents. 

5. Arranged / coordinated Traffic 

A traffic flow that is arranged according to law,  roads condition or maps.  Lanes are separated for each type of vehicle. 

What is Traffic Congestion??

When  we  talk about excess of vehicles , traffic jams,  or about random traffic then we just have one thing in our mind for summarise these all points that is "traffic congestion" 

It's a biggest and current issue in Pakistan.  

Congestion may result from decrease in capacity e.g: accidents on the roads or roads being closed. 

 It happens when vehicles travel slower because there is too much traffic on roads.

This makes trips times longer, and increases queuing.

The truth is that the traffic congestion is caused by multiple causes but here we are discuss some important and main causes which are make in Pakistan..

1. Lack of Awareness 
2. Old vehicles 
3. No arrangement 
4. Lack of space
5. Unfollow rules 
6. Ignore sign Boards
7. Laziness of traffic police 
8. New developments 
9. Protest on Roads 

Let's explain these main reasons in Pakistan  

1. Lack of Awareness 

So in Pakistan, mostly people are uneducated and also unaware from traffic rules and those who are educated and know something about traffic rules,  they do not follow them.  So immaturity and lack of knowledge become the cause of traffic congestion. 

2. Old Vehicles

It is the common reason of Pakistan and India.  They both have old buses. They used them as a local transport.  Their sizes are extra large which take much space  which narrows the roads and congestion created  

3. No Arrangement 

There is no arrangement in traffic.  There is no specific lanes for specific vehicles.  In other countries,  every type of vehicle move in its type of lane.  No one can change its lane. But irregularity in Pakistan's traffic causes accidents.

4. Lack of Space 

In Pakistan,  the shops which are on roads can used the government spaces for displaying their shop's stuff on roads that's why roads are  narrow and traffic jam happened. 

5. Unfollow Rules 

In Pakistan,  people never follow the Traffic Rules even rules are displayed everywhere on the roads,  speed limits are mentioned, signals are on but they never stop on signals.  Only 70% people out of 100%  will stopped at the signals or follow speed limits. 

6.Ignore Sign Boards 

In Pakistan,  majority of people ignore sign boards.  For example.

A sign board is displayed that "use of phone not allowed during driving"

Or 

"seat belt or speed limits"

But no one will follow these sign boards.  

7. Laziness of Traffic Police 

Our traffic wardens are also very lazy..  They ate dozing on the duty spots.  Sometimes they never on traffic signals.  They stopped anyone without any  reason or make challan  for them.  They do not guide the traffic properly.  

8. New Developments 

New developments,  like making train lines , flyovers or bridges or some other plans for development on roads cause the lack of space for traffic flow.  Construction on roads may affect the traffic flow. 

9. Protest on Roads 

Protest against government usually affect our traffic in any corner of Pakistan.  It causes the traffic jams on different roads..  Also become the reason of unusual things.  

 "Story of Lady Constable in Shiekhupura"

"Story of Lady Constable in Sheikhupura"

Recently in sheikhupura, a young lady make the victim of a Lawyer's unfairness.  He was parking his car on No Parking place in front of Court.  The lady constable was appointed on that place and doing her job.  She went near to Lawyer's  car and asked him to park his car at the parking place. 

But he refused. She asked him again and he was in anger and make slap on her face in public figure.  

So in our Country,  there is no place for honest persons or respect for women. We should highlight these points. 

Reasons of accidents, 

According to a Report,  after every 5 minute,  a person is killed or badly injured in a road traffic crash in Pakistan

• Increase in vehicles is the first main reason of accidents.   

• No regularity in traffic is another cause of accidents. 

•  Old buses are also make the cause of accidents.  They do not repair properly and crash or off in between roads.

•  Population  Is also a big reason of increase in traffic and increase in accidents  

•  Traffic Signals are not followd by people.

•  Use of phones are also make the cause of accidents  

•  High speed take many lives of many people. 

•  Diversion of attention is a biggest reason of accidents 

•  Rickshaws driver park or stop rickshaws without any sign at any place. 
•  Over load the buses is one of the well known reason of accidents.  

There are so many other reasons but these are needed to be highlight.

Road Safety 

 Road safety is a major public health issue in Pakistan.  Improvements in mobility must not be at the expense of safety. 

Road laws are important for road safety.  They set out the rules which everyone must comply with,  for the benefit of all road users.  Serious offences must be accompanied by strong penalties. We must sure that drivers have skills and knowledge necessary for safe driving,  and that the vehicles they use are safe. 

Pakistani road laws have become outdated and are in need of comprehensive review and modernization. 

Many things have changed since they were made . Such as changes in technology, increases in road traffic and the decentralization of responsibilities to provinces. 

"wearing a motorcycle helmet correctly can result in 40% reduction to risk of death"

To reduce road congestion , Pakistan must revise national transportation policy and split traffic volumes into different modes . 

Need to make different speed limit lanes for drivers that they will have to drive easily without changing lane.  In this way, we can reduce accidents and road congestion too. 

Thank you!