How many of us can say we don’t know anybody who drives underage in Pakistan? Chances are that many of us would know of cousins, relatives and friends (maybe even ourselves) who have driven a car or a motorcycle in Pakistan while being under the legal driving age, and without holding a government issued drivers’ license. Why is that so?
Over the years, our society has unfortunately become more complacent about underage driving than before, and more kids are growing up learning that it is ‘cool‘ to drive young, to drive fast, and to risk it with the law. The parallel assumption is that if they were to be caught by the police, a little rishwat (bribery) and connections in the Police or military will get them out in no time.
The result of this criminal neglect from parents and other elders (and I don’t use that word loosely here) is an increased danger of fatal traffic accidents that now exists on roads. Underage kids are not only untrained drivers, but they can also be more prone to road-rage, over-excitement & speeding, and incapable of making split second decisions. I lost a friend in a freak accident that involved an underage driver, and a recent news item in the Daily Times reminded me of the pain one more time:
KARACHI: A 17-year-old boy driving a bus of route 20 was arrested Sunday night for hitting and killing a man and his five-year-old daughter near Habib Chowrangi, SITE. According to the police and witness accounts, the bus driver lost control while over speeding. The bus first hit a police motorcycle that was parked in front of the DC’s office and later smashed into a running motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider identified as 35-year-old Saleem and his five-year-old daughter Iqra died on the spot, while his wife Uzma and his older daughter, seven-year-old Aiman, were injured. When the accident happened passers-by gathered around the scene and caught the driver of the bus. They were surprised to discover that he was a teenager and did not have a driving license or a National Identity Card.
The actual bus driver was said to be ill and was sleeping on a back seat when the accident took place. He handed over the steering wheel to the bus cleaner, Afridi, before going to sleep.
I have noticed young boys in Karachi often riding motorcycles recklessly, but I had not realized they were now also driving large buses and lorries. In this particular case it is easy to identify the real driver as the guilty person, but in other situations I have actually noticed parents actively encourging kids to drive when they are neither trained, nor authorized to.
Sometimes it starts with a short run to fetch groceries from nearby markets, and sometimes its just a little ride ride around the block for fun. But before you know it, kids are given the responsibility of driving family around elders are not available. This short-sightedness is a terrible mistake. It does not help kids grow up confident, as a relative asserted once. It only increases the risk of the kid getting into a terrible accident.
When will we learn that with plenty of other problems affecting us, there is no need to inflict otherwise avoidable tragedies on our people? This time a family of 4 is left grieving forever, the next time it could be a larger crowd waiting at a bus station? It could be someone we love dearly.
There is no reason for kids to be driving motorcycles or cars untrained and without a license. Kids of driving age should first attend driving schools to learn all the rules, and then they must obtain the driver’s license the way their counterparts do in other countries. Not only should the Police come down hard on this, but it is a responsibility we must also all bear in the society. We have to start from our homes, our families, and our friends. It may not be fashionable, but it is safe.
I think there are basically two groups of people in Pakistan who either encourage or do not discourage underage driving and the illegal and dangerous behavior that comes with it. The first is the children of very wealthy people who have a number of cars at their disposal and have little to no regular contact with their parents. The second group is the children of government officers who would never think of letting their children drive their private cars but willingly offer up the government’s car for their children to “practice” on.
@Raza: “We never get taught by our parents ever to respect, as if it’s not a priority”
I agree that this is a MAJOR problem in Pakistan; after all, kids imitate their parents in one form or another. But that said, a lot of parents, including mine, DO teach their kids about these things.
The lack of respect for law is so low that it’s amazing! No one seems to care about stopping at red-lights and observing the law otherwise. We never get taught by our parents ever to respect, as if it’s not a priority. The simplest reason is that our parents probably did not learn the same while growing or they simply don’t care themselves! In fact, when you look around .. this DON’T CARE attitude is prevalent in our society. If you ask me, police needs reforms or transformation into something more efficient and trustworthy. It needs to tighten its grip on the city where robbers, dacoits and mobile snatches are runnnig rampant. The current law and order situation is pathetic tbh!
I just want to add that the sole responsibility of this crime rests with parents. There is absolute no excuse for letting your child drive illegally.
Beautiful argument. If only people could listen..
Bilal you have made a very valid point. If you try to translate this into a bigger picture, this could explain how none of us learn to abide the laws and rules placed by the socities. It is easy to see how we all grow up and never keep police or law enforcement in any regard. And hene, we see headlines of very well-known, educated and normally sane people invovled in massive corruption cases. Since, we never learn to abide the law and this small thing of not abiding by Traffic Rules easily translates into taking judicary, anti-corruption laws and all sorts of policies for granted.
Today its giving Rs 100-500 to a small policeman who stops, tomorrow it will be giving Rs 2,3 crores to judges, law enforcement people, customs, politicians, etc.
Since we all seem to talk about the ills of western socity and thier social plight, mayeb we should look more closely into them and realise how they respect law and order. Hence, on a broader and high-level basis they do atleast have a system, whereas we have none!!