EVERY day, Pakistan`s vibrant cities are subjected to a grim score of screeching tyres and ambulance sirens owing to the rising number of road traffic accidents.

Samaritans weave through the chaos as they take the victims to nearby hospitals, but beneath this quiet heroism lies a harsh reality; our roads have become warzones that no one seems willing to address.

To truly stop the carnage, we need more than bandages. Instead, we need a revolution in terms of how we think about and deal with matters related to road safety. Every day, motorcyclists zig-zag through traffic without helmets, and jump red lights. Common sights include a family of six-plus on a single motorcycle, as well as women in a flowing abaapa risking their clothes getting stuck behind the wheel.

Also, impatient car drivers are seen speedily racing against the clock, fuelled by desperation and a chronic and all-pervasive lack of caution. All these elements need to be fixed at the grassroots level. Seatbelts in cars, and helmets for bikers must be mandated rather strictly.

The number of riders on motorcycles must also be capped to ensure safety.In terms of infrastructure, creating speed bumps may serve as a necessary gentle reminder for fast-moving vehicles to slow down. Traffic lights that are often out of order should be fixed timely to streamline the flow of traffic.

On the other hand, frequent disruption on the roads due to maintenance and digging upmust be planned in a professioanl way so that the road network is not tampered with unnecessarily. Finally, much has to be done to alleviate the sufferings of pedestrians who currently have no pavements to use.

M. Abdullah Qureshi Karachi