Solutions
However, with all inventions there are limitations, just as in the invention of seat belts. As research gathered over time has shown us that at times wearing a seatbelt can be more hazardous to your health than not wearing a seatbelt.
For in seatbelt failure or defect could cause many injuries including internal bleeding, brown spine, head or neck injuries, brain trauma, and broken bones. These malfunctions have been deterred to either be scientific or manufacturing defects which are tip now being looked in to.
Regardless, even with the given risks seatbelts are more advantageous than disadvantageous. The statistics shown on the home page show that seat belts have proven to decrease the risks of driving, even partially.
Solutions -
Below please find four measures that could be adopted in Karachi, Pakistan - maybe even more places - to decrease the number of car accidents and increase road safety.
Currently, there are laws regarding wearing seat belts for the front passengers but none for the back passengers. To the extinct that most cars sent over don't even offer back seat seat belts or are either covered under the leather seta protection garb most drivers put on. The dilemma in this case is that even though there is a law to wear front seat belts it isn't implemented. Now the police department are one to blame for the lack of implementation but one must also take in account of the lack of education and local awareness about this issue at hand. Karachi has an 80%+ rate of mostly having drivers driving on the roads as labor is considered quite affordable. One must then take in account that due to their lack of education and rash driving skills such laws of seat belts have never truly been brought to surface. Especially considering most receive their driving licenses without pre written tests on road laws or in local villages. So for this reason i believe the government should take initiative and make pre written tests and at least a minimum of 5-7 class hours on the education of road laws and seat belt importance. This could include field activities of actually siting in stimulators and experiencing car crashes to seat belt tutorials and importance seminars. Furthermore there could be road billboards and sidewalk signs to slow down and consider the implications of NOT wearing a seatbelt.
In regards to back seat seat belts that government could enforce stricter police bans and fines on peoples who do not enforce the law. Keeping in mind to over look the corruption rate by having monthly report sent to the Road Police Headquarters to oversee this new implementation. A new law should being proposed, making not wearing a seat belt anywhere in the car illegal, and could cost the offender Rs. 1000, as well as black points on his/her license.
The probability of this law being created is high at this point, and the other possible measure that can be adopted is the enforcement of the law. The enforcement can be done through an increase of traffic policemen, as well as an increase in traffic cameras throughout Karachi.
There are of course implications and drawbacks to these measures as mentioned above, such as corruption and monetary excess. At any other point in time, this would not have been a difficulty. However, at this point, the government's attention - and its monetary funds - are focused almost entirely on bigger issues; for example, the ongoing terrorist attacks and safety hazards.Therefore, enforcing the law may be economically impractical at this time.
Another law that could be implemented to assist is the banning of containers and big trade transport trucks to be used during the day time or traffic hours. Keeping in mind that due to the mass difference from it to a smaller car their collision could be greet, with greater momentum threatening lives and person safety. A law can be passed for trucks and containers to be allowed on main road only during early mornings or after 11 in the night. Acknowledging that this law is in place, it is not implemented to all roads so seeing this initiation a larger scale would benefit both the government and the people.
One more safety measure that can be undertaken is something that we all can do - something we don't need the government for. We can simply raise awareness. Bringing attention to the situation at hand will make people aware of the risks and dangers of driving, and allow them to make an informed decision on whether comfort and convenience is worth the risk of injury or casualty. This is a measure that is absolutely economically viable, because it does not require a huge amount of money. All it requires is support and commitment to the cause, both of which are readily available.
Implications -
We must keep in mind that car accidents are equally an essential issue we must address with the utmost attention for its implications are great. Not only do they effect the driver and his/her passengers but society at whole. For instance if the driver is impaired and is unable to work, being the only earner in the family it could put the family in to great risk of comic bankruptcy, hunger and emotional instability. Furthermore, affecting the work place of missing workers and admin places which could effect the office credentials and market. Accidents don't only hold a significant effect on the people but also the government and society at whole. For it is the government who are liable to clear up roads after accidents and with increasing rates in this could effect them economically as we'll as in their publicity.
The first implication is to the social factor. In teen culture, wearing a seat belt could be seen as 'uncool' or 'lame'. This would make people reluctant to wear seatbelts, as they could be targeted for it. In older generations, seatbelts can be seen as a sign of weakness - as if the person in question needs a seatbelt because he cannot protect himself. Younger children may feel too restrained or uncomfortable. Wearing a seatbelt in society can have both negative and positive connotations however can have life altering impacts. A person can believe that it is his moral and ethical duty to protect himself and his passengers by not wearing a seatbelt.
Seatbelts have a certain effect on the human psychology. They create a safety net. When a person is driving a car, he/she takes certain factors into consideration before deciding how to drive - time, image, concern for passengers, the weather, the condition of the road, fear of the police, etc. The driver will also be adjusting his behaviour depending on the possibility of risk. This means, if he is wearing a seatbelt, his car has airbags, and anti-skid brakes, he will allow himself to drive with less caution - taking more risks. Drivers who feel safe: as they tend to do when wearing a seatbelt, pose more of a threat to other drivers.
For in seatbelt failure or defect could cause many injuries including internal bleeding, brown spine, head or neck injuries, brain trauma, and broken bones. These malfunctions have been deterred to either be scientific or manufacturing defects which are tip now being looked in to.
Regardless, even with the given risks seatbelts are more advantageous than disadvantageous. The statistics shown on the home page show that seat belts have proven to decrease the risks of driving, even partially.
Solutions -
Below please find four measures that could be adopted in Karachi, Pakistan - maybe even more places - to decrease the number of car accidents and increase road safety.
Currently, there are laws regarding wearing seat belts for the front passengers but none for the back passengers. To the extinct that most cars sent over don't even offer back seat seat belts or are either covered under the leather seta protection garb most drivers put on. The dilemma in this case is that even though there is a law to wear front seat belts it isn't implemented. Now the police department are one to blame for the lack of implementation but one must also take in account of the lack of education and local awareness about this issue at hand. Karachi has an 80%+ rate of mostly having drivers driving on the roads as labor is considered quite affordable. One must then take in account that due to their lack of education and rash driving skills such laws of seat belts have never truly been brought to surface. Especially considering most receive their driving licenses without pre written tests on road laws or in local villages. So for this reason i believe the government should take initiative and make pre written tests and at least a minimum of 5-7 class hours on the education of road laws and seat belt importance. This could include field activities of actually siting in stimulators and experiencing car crashes to seat belt tutorials and importance seminars. Furthermore there could be road billboards and sidewalk signs to slow down and consider the implications of NOT wearing a seatbelt.
In regards to back seat seat belts that government could enforce stricter police bans and fines on peoples who do not enforce the law. Keeping in mind to over look the corruption rate by having monthly report sent to the Road Police Headquarters to oversee this new implementation. A new law should being proposed, making not wearing a seat belt anywhere in the car illegal, and could cost the offender Rs. 1000, as well as black points on his/her license.
The probability of this law being created is high at this point, and the other possible measure that can be adopted is the enforcement of the law. The enforcement can be done through an increase of traffic policemen, as well as an increase in traffic cameras throughout Karachi.
There are of course implications and drawbacks to these measures as mentioned above, such as corruption and monetary excess. At any other point in time, this would not have been a difficulty. However, at this point, the government's attention - and its monetary funds - are focused almost entirely on bigger issues; for example, the ongoing terrorist attacks and safety hazards.Therefore, enforcing the law may be economically impractical at this time.
Another law that could be implemented to assist is the banning of containers and big trade transport trucks to be used during the day time or traffic hours. Keeping in mind that due to the mass difference from it to a smaller car their collision could be greet, with greater momentum threatening lives and person safety. A law can be passed for trucks and containers to be allowed on main road only during early mornings or after 11 in the night. Acknowledging that this law is in place, it is not implemented to all roads so seeing this initiation a larger scale would benefit both the government and the people.
One more safety measure that can be undertaken is something that we all can do - something we don't need the government for. We can simply raise awareness. Bringing attention to the situation at hand will make people aware of the risks and dangers of driving, and allow them to make an informed decision on whether comfort and convenience is worth the risk of injury or casualty. This is a measure that is absolutely economically viable, because it does not require a huge amount of money. All it requires is support and commitment to the cause, both of which are readily available.
Implications -
We must keep in mind that car accidents are equally an essential issue we must address with the utmost attention for its implications are great. Not only do they effect the driver and his/her passengers but society at whole. For instance if the driver is impaired and is unable to work, being the only earner in the family it could put the family in to great risk of comic bankruptcy, hunger and emotional instability. Furthermore, affecting the work place of missing workers and admin places which could effect the office credentials and market. Accidents don't only hold a significant effect on the people but also the government and society at whole. For it is the government who are liable to clear up roads after accidents and with increasing rates in this could effect them economically as we'll as in their publicity.
The first implication is to the social factor. In teen culture, wearing a seat belt could be seen as 'uncool' or 'lame'. This would make people reluctant to wear seatbelts, as they could be targeted for it. In older generations, seatbelts can be seen as a sign of weakness - as if the person in question needs a seatbelt because he cannot protect himself. Younger children may feel too restrained or uncomfortable. Wearing a seatbelt in society can have both negative and positive connotations however can have life altering impacts. A person can believe that it is his moral and ethical duty to protect himself and his passengers by not wearing a seatbelt.
Seatbelts have a certain effect on the human psychology. They create a safety net. When a person is driving a car, he/she takes certain factors into consideration before deciding how to drive - time, image, concern for passengers, the weather, the condition of the road, fear of the police, etc. The driver will also be adjusting his behaviour depending on the possibility of risk. This means, if he is wearing a seatbelt, his car has airbags, and anti-skid brakes, he will allow himself to drive with less caution - taking more risks. Drivers who feel safe: as they tend to do when wearing a seatbelt, pose more of a threat to other drivers.