Driving habits in Pakistan

[Hollow Field]

I know the culture of safety when driving in pakistan is not present, due to lack of education and rules of the road are not followed, due to lack of law enforcement.

I understand there are many reasons for this including illiteracy, corruption, lack of funds, and quite simply, the lack of 'road safety mindset'

But how are the people who drive in pakistan so reckless and impatient. It has always baffled me. Like people die violent deaths routinely in busy traffic areas, but nobody takes heed. Just the other day a rickshaw driver tried to outrun a train and as a result, 6 or 7 children died. He couldn't wait 1-2 mins for the train to pass? Nobody drives in the lane. I get that traffic is bad and people are in a hurry, but come on.


DISCLAIMER: I can only speak for Karachi and some parts of Punjab. I have not been all over the country, so I dont know about everywhere. [Redacted]

Please dont roast me, I'm just asking a question and looking for an answer to the question, respectfully

 

[Imran Khan]

i am fully agree with you i feel comfort in islamabad only where traffic is better

 

[Goenitz]

more precious lives are lost in road accidents than terrorism... that is mostly related to our reckless behavior and not meeting the international standards like license holder drivers only on roads, car safety gear (air bags etc, seat belts), mismanaged road expansion and railway crossing etc..,

 

[war&peace]

If you want to measure the level of education, grooming and how civilised a nation is?...don't look at statistics, income and number of schools, literacy rate etc etc...Just go the out and observe how they behave on the roads.. that's it. You will know it within seconds..

 

[Hollow Field]

i am fully agree with you i feel comfort in islamabad only where traffic is better

What exactly is it about Islamabad that makes it so much better. Can you please provide a list of reasons?

 

[JamD]

I know the culture of safety when driving in pakistan is not present, due to lack of education and rules of the road are not followed, due to lack of law enforcement.

I understand there are many reasons for this including illiteracy, corruption, lack of funds, and quite simply, the lack of 'road safety mindset'

But how are the people who drive in pakistan so reckless and impatient. It has always baffled me. Like people die violent deaths routinely in busy traffic areas, but nobody takes heed. Just the other day a rickshaw driver tried to outrun a train and as a result, 6 or 7 children died. He couldn't wait 1-2 mins for the train to pass? Nobody drives in the lane. I get that traffic is bad and people are in a hurry, but come on.


DISCLAIMER: I can only speak for Karachi and some parts of Punjab. I have not been all over the country, so I dont know about everywhere. I know India and other such countries can be as bad or even worse

Please dont roast me, I'm just asking a question and looking for an answer to the question, respectfully

I wonder about this quite a lot, especially having seen the traffic here in the US. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer yet.

In no particular order:

1. Improper training of traffic police
2. Improper traffic law enforcement
3. improper and corruption filled process for obtaining a driver's license
4. Lack of a code for building roads and intersections
5. Lack of city-wide road network plans
6. Absence of good mass transit (Karachi) which exacerbates the problem many fold
7. General culture of treating laws and rules casually

 

[Samee Ulhaq]

I know the culture of safety when driving in pakistan is not present, due to lack of education and rules of the road are not followed, due to lack of law enforcement.

I understand there are many reasons for this including illiteracy, corruption, lack of funds, and quite simply, the lack of 'road safety mindset'

But how are the people who drive in pakistan so reckless and impatient. It has always baffled me. Like people die violent deaths routinely in busy traffic areas, but nobody takes heed. Just the other day a rickshaw driver tried to outrun a train and as a result, 6 or 7 children died. He couldn't wait 1-2 mins for the train to pass? Nobody drives in the lane. I get that traffic is bad and people are in a hurry, but come on.


DISCLAIMER: I can only speak for Karachi and some parts of Punjab. I have not been all over the country, so I dont know about everywhere. I know India and other such countries can be as bad or even worse

Please dont roast me, I'm just asking a question and looking for an answer to the question, respectfully

Have you ever played GTA (PC Game) then you know how we drive the car in game, now imagine all car in games driven by gamers. Then the Traffic will be like lahore or Multan.

 

[Hollow Field]

I wonder about this quite a lot, especially having seen the traffic here in the US. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer yet.

In no particular order:

1. Improper training of traffic police
2. Improper traffic law enforcement
3. improper and corruption filled process for obtaining a driver's license
4. Lack of a code for building roads and intersections
5. Lack of city-wide road network plans
6. Absence of good mass transit (Karachi) which exacerbates the problem many fold
7. General culture of treating laws and rules casually

Thank you, those all great and valid points.

Even considering them, what confuses me is that do people not have a sense of self preservation?

Treating laws casually I understand. But taking you life casually. So many of these poor people who die have 3+ children and they are the sole breadwinners of their families. Their families suffer in these cases.

Even if they don't have children, can't those people realize they might be endangering other innocent peoples; lives, who may have families

 

[Hollow Field]

Have you ever played GTA (PC Game) then you know how we drive the car in game, now imagine all car in games driven by gamers. Then the Traffic will be like lahore or Multan.

lol I have, very true. Is life in Pakistan a game? Are our lives not worth the same as countries where they drive safely and with patience?

Why the f ... the op has to include a reference to India ? Just discuss the poor driving habits of Pakistanis , leave us out of it.

sorry, I meant as a reference, ill remove it, if I can

 

[Imran Khan]

What exactly is it about Islamabad that makes it so much better. Can you please provide a list of reasons?

first of all better planned roads and signals sir
second low traffic and no hassle
third lines been follow there as i have seen .

 

[JamD]

Thank you, those all great and valid points.

Even considering them, what confuses me is that do people not have a sense of self preservation?

Treating laws casually I understand. But taking you life casually. So many of these poor people who die have 3+ children and they are the sole breadwinners of their families. Their families suffer in these cases.

Even if they don't have children, can't those people realize they might be endangering other innocent peoples; lives, who may have families

We have a lot of "baa theek ay" culture. We are casual about almost everything. Punctuality, following laws, personal safety, everything really. I want to say lack of awareness but that has been said so many times it has become a cliche. Changes to the culture of a nation are going to take generations I fear. And sadly, in the list of fish to fry, this isn't even in the top 10 of Pakistan's problems right now. Besides we're so baa theek ay we only deal with the top 3 problems (half-halfheartedly lol). Case in point National Action Plan.

 

[Dawood Ibrahim]

I see people in my home town KPK driving reckless thinking their stupidity makes them PRO DRIVERS. A broad when i start driving and people start driving either too slow or reckless driving. Drivers like me can get very annoyed when im driving 120 km per hour and a defensive driver comes in front of you and drives slow makes me mad and makes me wish i had Monster truck to crush coz because of these people also people get angry start. Especially women's and Indians

 

[Bouncer]

I know the culture of safety when driving in pakistan is not present, due to lack of education and rules of the road are not followed, due to lack of law enforcement.

I understand there are many reasons for this including illiteracy, corruption, lack of funds, and quite simply, the lack of 'road safety mindset'

But how are the people who drive in pakistan so reckless and impatient. It has always baffled me. Like people die violent deaths routinely in busy traffic areas, but nobody takes heed. Just the other day a rickshaw driver tried to outrun a train and as a result, 6 or 7 children died. He couldn't wait 1-2 mins for the train to pass? Nobody drives in the lane. I get that traffic is bad and people are in a hurry, but come on.


DISCLAIMER: I can only speak for Karachi and some parts of Punjab. I have not been all over the country, so I dont know about everywhere. [Redacted]

Please dont roast me, I'm just asking a question and looking for an answer to the question, respectfully

Lack of enforcement.

Laws are there. Traffic signals are there, mostly. Wardens are present. But what is not present is enforcement.
People ignore signals, they over-speed, do not wear seatbelts/helmets and heck I have seen people drive on the WRONG side of highways in all major cities. Why? Because they know they can get away with it. Either a small one time fine or a bribe. Nothing goes in their file. Nothing is long term. No risk of increasing premiums on insurance.

I have seen the same or worse behavior in other countries.

 

[Hollow Field]

Lack of enforcement.

Laws are there. Traffic signals are there, mostly. Wardens are present. But what is not present is enforcement.
People ignore signals, they over-speed, do not wear seatbelts/helmets and heck I have seen people drive on the WRONG side of highways in all major cities. Why? Because they know they can get away with it. Either a small one time fine or a bribe. Nothing goes in their file. Nothing is long term. No risk of increasing premiums on insurance.

I have seen the same or worse behavior in other countries.

Yeah, some countries issue demerit points to drivers for offences. It stays on the record for years and increases insurances costs. Also, if you keep breaking the law frequently, they keep adding up until your car is impounded and license is suspended

 

[war&peace]

I wonder about this quite a lot, especially having seen the traffic here in the US. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer yet.

In no particular order:

1. Improper training of traffic police
2. Improper traffic law enforcement
3. improper and corruption filled process for obtaining a driver's license
4. Lack of a code for building roads and intersections
5. Lack of city-wide road network plans
6. Absence of good mass transit (Karachi) which exacerbates the problem many fold
7. General culture of treating laws and rules casually

I will surmise that in three words: uncivilised & careless attitude