I got caught crossing a red traffic light today and mind you it was not the first time this has happened.

I remember how horrified I had been when during one of my driving classes the instructor had advised me to  hit the accelerator and ignore the red traffic light like the rest of the vehicles on the road at that particular junction. Back then incognizant of the road norms devised and followed by the local speed demons (and wanna be speed demons), I had tried to register my protest at being asked to break law and glare indignantly at the instructor seated next to me. (The latter isn't easy to do when you are hunched over the steering wheel of a battered old Alto, keeping your eyes peeled on the road ahead trying not to hit anything.)

Anyways, I was a bit taken aback when I the traffic constable asked me to  pullover to the road side today. Here is what transpired after I rolled don't my window.


Traffic cop: "Show me your driving license."
 Me: Fumbles in bag, pulls out my press card and shows it to traffic guy.
Traffic cop: "Do you know you have crossed a red traffic light ?"
Me: *blank  look*
Traffic cop: "Did you not see the light turn red?"
Me: No
Traffic cop : "You don't have a driving license ?"
Me (still brandishing the press card) : "Uh...No...I think I left it in my other bag"
Traffic cop stares at me for a bit...."Ok go, although the other drivers may argue why are we letting this car  go."
Me  zooms off.

And oh, after that I also hit a motorist today...

Actually the motorcyle whizzed around from somewhere behind my car and tried to overtake it and go across to the right side of the road just as I was negotiating a left turn to get on the express way. (This is with me flashing the car indicator light and this time there are no traffic signals involved) The back of the motorcycle hit my car bonnet and I hit the brakes. The motorcyclist was dislodged from his perch and glared at me. I glared back. His buddy trailing behind on another bike caught up to him and they chat in the middle of the road with traffic moving around them. Then the motorcyclist rearranged himself on his bike and got going on his errant way.
This entire episode took place in full view of another traffic cop.

Trust me I am all for the whole law abiding citizen bit, but what could be more  evident of a failed system when people show such a blatant disregard for the law as if doesn't exist at all. If you look at the traffic system in Karachi, you will notice a certain pattern. Here people believe in asserting their own rights of passage over safety of other vehicles or traffic rules. You will find cars speeding up as they near a zebra crossing to caution pedestrians not to step off the kerb and get in their way. Don't be perturbed if cars trailing behind honk at you for not creeping up close enough to bumper of the vehicle in front of you or for stalling them when you stop at red traffic light. Then there are days when you will see motorcycles weaving their way around pedestrians as they navigate the footpaths, in a bit to avoid the traffic jam on the road.


You see people out here believe in being self reliant, devising their own ways to attain what they want. Why let small insignificant things such as laws and rules get in the way ?