student died in a road accident in Karachi on October 10. Protests erupted soon after. The protesting students demanded justice for the deceased and better transport facilities for all students. This was not an isolated tragedy. Many university, school and college students have died in road accidents in Karachiin the past. Poor roads, unruly transport operators, poor enforcement of traffic rules and a general lack of awareness of road safety all contribute to the problem.

Early in the morning and in the afternoon, thousands of overloaded vans of various makes and models carry students to and from their schools. No arrangements are made to deal with weather extremes. Roads in many city areas, where schools and colleges are located without proper planning, become clogged. Thus traffic jams are routine along the Shara-i-Faisal, Khayaban-i-Iqbal, University Road, Embankment Road in Lyari/ Kharadar and main streets in Nazimabad.

Some of these locations become inaccessible due to chaotic movement of vans, buses, coaches and rickshaws. In recent days, vans have become the dominant mode of transport for school and college students. Whereas the affluent pick and drop their children using private automobiles, a sizable number of lower-middle and middle income........

© The News on Sunday