Violating Traffic Laws is Dangerous!
Allamah Mawlana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadiri Razavi دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ
Motorcycles are considered the most dangerous mode of transport and are involved in numerous accidents every day. In some countries, they are not very popular; you will hardly see them on the roads, and when you do, they are used for specific purposes, like delivering food from restaurants. However, in Pakistan, they are extremely common; even children ride them freely. This not only puts the rider’s life in danger, but when accidents occur, others are harmed too.
I am not saying that riding a motorcycle is impermissible, but it is a fact that it is a dangerous vehicle. Anyone who rides one must be skilled. In Pakistan, a motorcycle license is required, so no one should ride one without a license and complete legal documents. Riders should also have knowledge of traffic laws, such as the meaning of the red, yellow, and green lights, where to slow down, where to speed up, and so on. A license should only be issued when the rider has all this knowledge and is truly competent. Unfortunately, some people use their money and influence to get a license without taking a test. When someone obtains a license this way, without proper training, what can you expect but accidents?
Most motorcyclists do not wear helmets, and those who do often wear them out of fear of the police and fines. If the traffic police strictly enforced the helmet law while remaining within the bounds of Shariah, I would be the first to vote in their favour, so that no one is spared. Even if they catch my son riding without a helmet, they should arrest him without hesitation. A helmet protects the rider's head, which is usually the first point of impact in an accident, and it can reduce the severity of injuries. However, the helmet should be durable enough to not fly off in strong winds or break upon impact. It is better to buy a robust helmet from a good company; a poor-quality helmet can shatter and cause injury by piercing the head.
In accidents, bike riders who suffer head injuries often remain unconscious for many days. Some regain consciousness, while others pass away. Remember, simply placing a helmet on your head is not enough; it must be fastened securely. Also keep in mind that most traffic laws exist for our own benefit. We even ran a campaign encouraging people to wear helmets. Some people say that the Ꜥimāmah is a Sunnah, so how can they wear a helmet? The answer to this is that you can wear your Ꜥimāmah for the entire day, except when riding a motorcycle, because an Ꜥimāmah cannot protect you from injury if you fall. In any case, there are many situations in which you remove your Ꜥimāmah, so removing it to wear a helmet for your safety is essential.
To prevent one-way violations, traffic police have been forced to install nail-like spikes on some roads to puncture the tyres of those driving in the wrong direction. Why do you force the law to take such strict measures? Follow the law voluntarily; it is for your own benefit. Make sure your motorcycle has a chain cover, as accidents often happen when a burqah or shawl gets caught in the chain, causing a fall and sometimes even death. I once experienced this myself years ago. I was riding as a passenger when a shawl got stuck in the chain. It tore apart, and my left foot was fractured.
Similarly, keep your motorcycle’s headlight and tail light in working order, or else the vehicle behind you may collide with you in the dark. Even for a car, if only one headlight is working, it can cause an accident. Faulty brakes are obviously dangerous as you will be unable to stop when needed. Some drivers do not get enough sleep and drive while drowsy, sometimes crashing and putting their own lives and others' lives at risk. Wearing a seatbelt protects both the driver and the passenger, because in the event of a sudden jolt or collision, it prevents the head from striking the seat in front and reduces injuries.
Some people use mobile phones while riding a motorcycle. When they are warned, they say: “Nothing will happen.” But the person lying in a hospital bed with a head injury might have said the same, until it was too late. Our roads are in poor condition, so if you hit a speed breaker or a pothole and your phone slips from your hand, you could lose control while trying to retrieve it and fall. Some motorcycle riders drive recklessly to overtake others and end up in accidents, causing damage to other vehicles too. Bus drivers often behave the same way, and sometimes buses collide, leaving many injured and some dead. Even in countries with strict traffic laws, people still break them whenever they get the chance. There is a Gujarati proverb which translates as: “Crows are black everywhere.” In other words, those who wish to break the law will break it wherever they are. In any case, abide by the traffic laws and protect your life.
Comments