Unfit vehicles threaten road safety

Aphotograph published on the front page of this newspaper on Wednesday, showing a bent and dented battery run three-wheeler plying the roads of the capital, speaks volume about the chaotic condition of our road sector. With a duct-taped plastic sheet as replacement for a proper windscreen, how the three-wheeler in question was allowed to traverse the roads without the authorities taking notice is indeed a mystery.

In fact, the more likely story is that the authorities did notice the decrepit vehicle as it would be near impossible not to detect the damage on it. The reality is, however, that they just did not care enough to do anything about it. And it is mainly because of such apathy on part of the authorities that we see thousands of other equally unfit vehicles plying the roads and endangering the lives of our citizens.

Some may not seem as damaged, but the amount of smog they release quite clearly shows how harmful they are to public health. Meanwhile, many more lack all the necessary parts a vehicle should have to safely run on roads such as headlights, tail-lights, side-view mirrors, etc. And although all vehicles using public roads are required, on paper, to face periodic fitness tests, that it is not the case in reality is clearly evident.

Are the authorities completely unconcerned about public road safety? What other explanation can there be for all of this? We hope to see the authorities take the matter seriously and remove all unfit vehicles from the roads.