The Traffic Police of Lahore has announced a ban on children sitting on the driver’s seat of rickshaws as part of a broader crackdown on overloaded school transport.
Action has also been initiated against those overloading school vans, rickshaws, and buses.
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Amara Athar issued directives prohibiting the dangerous practice of children riding alongside rickshaw drivers, as well as hanging school bags or other items on the sides of rickshaws.
In a bid to enforce this decision, the traffic police claim to have deployed 251 wardens outside various educational institutions across the city. However, reports indicate that these wardens are present outside only a limited number of schools, with many others left unattended. Consequently, several overloaded school vans, rickshaws, and buses continue to violate the new regulations.
Citizens complain that the wardens neglecting their duties leads to an increase in accidents.
The CTO stressed that parents must play an active role in identifying unsafe rickshaws and school vans to aid the police in taking action. She has urged that the future generations must not be left at the mercy of rickshaw and van drivers. "Parents should keep a special eye on it," she remarked.
Citizens have voiced frustration, pointing out the lack of enforcement in many areas and warning that the continued oversight could increase the risk of road accidents. Parents were urged to closely monitor their children's transport arrangements and not leave their safety in the hands of careless drivers.
