Night traffic hurts

Rawalpindi : If you have driven at night in Rawalpindi, you know what a pain it is. Even if you do not drive, you will know how much night traffic hurts, especially your eyes. A high beam is always painful.

“Rawalpindi is full of people driving around in high-beam. Whether you are driving or sitting in the front or even sitting at the back, the glare emanating from all those high beams is painful. So much so that my husband drives with his coloured eyeglasses on at night, it is much better than having a permanent eye damage, says Zaigham Abbas.

“Why do people drive on high beam? Some bus drivers do it on purpose to get people out of their way. These drivers are a frustrated lot. What else do you expect with all that driving day and night in mad city traffic,” says Abis Raza. “How can the driving crowd be educated? All those who keep chattering on and on during rush hour traffic can actually start to educate people on how to drive on low beams. I am sure if people drive on high beam just because they are unaware, they will toe the line,” says Muhammad Adil.

“I have stopped my car in the middle of the road sometimes in the night almost causing jam in order to literally spit, which I really feel like doing at least once on the face of the person driving on high beam who cannot follow or even learn these basic lessons in driving,” says Shakir Hussain.

“People driving with high beams don’t understand the simple fact that if the person driving in the opposite direction is not able to see the road, they themselves are at risk. There is a chance of collision. This is a major problem while driving at night. This issue will not be resolved unless the traffic police enforces usage of low beam,” says Imtiaz Ali.

“I drive with a low beam but when I see the opposite person with a high beam, why would I remain sober? I instantly switch to high beam. It is a problem with the attitude. Traffic Police has to intervene,” says Meesam Ali.

“It is good that someone has thought about this. Otherwise, we become habituated just like the potholes, muddy roads, overflowing drainage, impatient honking, whisking close to the pedestrian, jumping the signal, which are common in our city,” says Turab Haider.

Laraib Ali says, “Citizens understand that high beams can cause accidents or that they are dangerous. However, a number of us tend to hold our common sense hostage to our egos. Only by police enforcement can the attitudes change. The lack of respect for other people is a common feature of all big cities. Enforcement is the answer; I would not expect common sense to make a difference.”