Editorial
Road crashes on holidays
Clamp discipline on drivers
No fewer than thirty-eight people have died and eighty others have been injured in road accidents during the Eid holidays. The argument could be made that accidents do happen. But beating that argument is another, which is that it is unusual for accidents to occur at a time when roads are relatively free of the usual congestion and frenzy which might cause tragedy and lead to unexpected deaths. On holidays, therefore, it is not expected that buses will turn over and cars crash into all sorts of objects.
It appears, though, that it is just this fact of the roads being free and vehicles being unimpeded in movement which causes such tragedy in almost every holiday season. Drivers have a sudden, altogether bizarre compulsion to drive faster than they usually do and are cheered by the fact that where generally it takes them hours to reach their destination, on holidays they do the job in minutes. Speed is then something that goes beyond the normal and vehicles simply end up squashing people in their way or ramming into homes and other structures. Almost every person behind the wheel seems caught in a maddening desire to rush down the roads and highways. News reports testify to precisely these happenings in these Eid holidays.
It is here that strict measures of discipline are called for. With highway patrols at work, it should not be difficult to make sure that people driving buses, trucks and cars do not exceed speed limits but if they do will be swiftly penalised. At the same time, steps must be taken, through regular checks at different road and highway points, to prevent buses, trucks and cars being driven by helpers or young people with no driving licences or experience. Lax attitudes almost always lead to disaster.
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