Mobile offence

Traffic rules and regulations in our country treat the use of a handheld mobile phone or similar devices behind the wheel as an endorsable offence. But unlike in developed countries, we have seen fewer instances where people are issued traffic tickets for this offence. It is frustrating to encounter someone driving very badly, and then discover that he or she is chatting away on their phone or texting. But just how dangerous is it to use a phone while driving? Although, there are no statistics for phone-specific accidents available in the country, research shows drivers who are distracted are two to three times more likely to crash.

Therefore the consequences of people not paying attention behind the wheel can be significantly greater. The rise in social media use is one reason drivers are using their mobile phones on the road even after it has become illegal. That is why we need to treat this offence differently. In addition to imposing heavy penalty, there is a need to offer educational courses to try to change people’s behaviour towards the way they drive their vehicles. This is necessary so that people can reflect the potential consequences of an accident.

Ayesha Sanaullah

Lahore