Women pillion riders

Published June 11, 2015
It may be worthwhile to have a media campaign highlighting the importance of wearing helmets, regardless of gender.—AP/File
It may be worthwhile to have a media campaign highlighting the importance of wearing helmets, regardless of gender.—AP/File

BY any stretch of the imagination, riding a two-wheeler in the free-for-all that is Karachi’s chaotic traffic is to play Russian roulette with one’s life.

The gamble becomes far more risky if one does so without protective headgear. Thus, the announcement by Karachi traffic police that helmets are now mandatory for all motorcycle riders, including women riding pillion, was long overdue. However, it seems safety regulations that should apply across the board can, instead, be gender-specific.

After a public outcry greeted the eminently sensible decision, women have been declared exempt from the rule.

In the absence of an organised and family-friendly mass transit system, one frequently comes across multiple individuals perched precariously on one motorcycle — not to mention all manner of bulky, inanimate objects as well.

Until the government addresses this yawning gap in civic amenities, it is perhaps unreasonable to suggest that the practice of ferrying entire families on motorcycles be discontinued. However, it is certainly possible to make this mode of transport safer.

According to data by the Road Traffic Injury Research and Prevention Centre at Karachi’s Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, those using two-wheelers for conveyance constitute the largest group of road casualties at over 60pc, with pedestrians coming in second.

Motorcyclists and pillion riders are, needless to say, particularly at risk of head injuries. A comprehensive study in India illustrated that the mortality rate is six times higher among motorcyclists without protective headgear.

Moreover, the study also found that the mortality rate among pillion riders was marginally higher than riders without helmets. It is conceivable that women in Pakistan who tend to ride side-saddle are more at risk even in the case of mild collisions.

Given these realities, it should be compulsory not only for women but also children on motorcycles to wear helmets, protests against this notwithstanding.

However, to glide more smoothly over the ‘cultural’ speed bump, it may be worthwhile to have a media campaign highlighting the importance of wearing helmets, regardless of gender.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Editorial

Balochistan outreach
Updated 11 Apr, 2025

Balochistan outreach

Terrorists must be dealt with firmly, but engaging in political activity cannot be equated with terrorism.
PSL season
Updated 11 Apr, 2025

PSL season

The season begins with the national team consistently underperforming and a war of words raging between franchise owners over the PSL’s standing.
Student woes
11 Apr, 2025

Student woes

BRIGHT young Pakistanis face an uncertain future in the US. The Trump administration, not content with merely...
Mineral wealth
Updated 10 Apr, 2025

Mineral wealth

The Baloch unrest is partly the result of the belief that the province’s resources are being used for the rest of the country rather than for Balochistan’s economic development.
Senate shortfalls
10 Apr, 2025

Senate shortfalls

THE latest Citizens’ Report by Pildat on the performance of the Senate of Pakistan is a sobering account of...
Crypto coup
10 Apr, 2025

Crypto coup

IT is quite the coup. One of the most recognisable names in the global cryptocurrency market has been roped in by ...