By Staff Reporter | October 20, 2025

When a heavy vehicle is loaded, it must operate within a specific speed limit — not just for efficiency but for safety. According to transportation expert Dr. Noman, the braking systems of such vehicles are significantly influenced by their load, especially when they ascend slopes or descend from bridges.

> “A loaded heavy vehicle has a defined operational velocity,” explained Dr. Noman. “Its braking performance changes with the weight it carries. Drivers must understand this engineering aspect rather than relying solely on brakes, clutch, or gear controls.”

He emphasized that vehicle handling is a science, not guesswork. Drivers should be trained to recognize their vehicle’s mechanical limits and vulnerabilities, especially in high-risk zones like Karachi’s crowded highways and bridges.

Motorcyclists: The City’s Most Vulnerable Road Users

Dr. Noman also highlighted that motorcyclists are among Karachi’s most at-risk commuters. With more than four million motorcycles on the city’s roads, the majority of riders lack formal training on traffic rules and defensive driving.

“Expecting that all these riders understand traffic laws is unrealistic,” he said. “This is where the traffic police must take responsibility, but enforcement remains weak.”

Lax Policing and Poor Surveillance

One of Karachi’s biggest challenges, according to Dr. Noman, is ineffective traffic regulation. Police checks primarily focus on verifying documents rather than identifying reckless or unsafe driving behaviors.

> “Their focus is more on paperwork and fines,” he noted. “There’s little attention to the real violations that endanger lives. Accountability is rare.”

To reduce fatalities, Dr. Noman recommended the installation of surveillance cameras across high-risk areas and improved management of black spots — locations with frequent accidents.

“Without Change, Fatalities Will Keep Rising”

Until Karachi implements these measures — better infrastructure, smarter surveillance, and stricter enforcement — traffic deaths are likely to increase, warned Dr. Noman.

Meanwhile, in the home of Shakir, whose family fell victim to one such tragic accident, the pain remains visible. His daughter Mahnoor’s boxed dinner set still sits untouched in their garage — a haunting reminder of lives lost due to negligence.

Though the FIR has been filed and a local association has offered Rs500,000 in compensation, the heavy trucks continue to rumble past Lucky One Mall every day.

Until the city slows down its traffic, fixes its roads, and enforces its laws, Karachi’s bustling roads will keep claiming lives and the boxes meant for celebrations will keep outliving the people they were meant for.