Nasir Ali Khan
Chairman, Kashmir Road Safety Foundation
What we are witnessing is not just traffic indiscipline, it is the quiet normalization of disregard.
A footpath is not just a strip of concrete, it is a promise of safety to a pedestrian. Yet, when a two-wheeler mounts it without hesitation, that promise is broken. Not by policy failure, but by human choice.
Encroachments creeping into public spaces are not merely physical obstructions, they are symbolic of a mindset that prioritizes individual convenience over collective dignity.
Wrong parking is not just poor judgment, it is a silent declaration: “My urgency is more important than your right.”
And perhaps most disturbing is the rise of aggression on the roads, the anger, the impatience, the hostility. It reflects something deeper than traffic stress. It reflects a society slowly losing its capacity for empathy.
The Crisis Beneath the Chaos
We often blame infrastructure, enforcement, or administration. But the deeper crisis lies within us.
Civic sense is not enforced by laws; it is cultivated by values.
When discipline is seen as weakness,
When rules are treated as obstacles,
And when public spaces are viewed as no one’s responsibility.
We create not just traffic disorder, but moral disorder.
The road becomes a mirror. And today, that mirror is asking us uncomfortable questions.
What Are We Becoming?
Are we becoming a society that has forgotten patience?
Have we reduced coexistence to competition?
Have we normalized chaos to the point where order feels unnatural?
Every act of riding on a footpath, every careless parking decision, every moment of road rage, these are not isolated incidents. They are collective symptoms of a deeper societal shift.
The Way Forward: Beyond Enforcement
Yes, stricter laws and enforcement are necessary. Yes, infrastructure must improve. But if we believe that this problem will be solved only by challans and penalties, we are missing the essence.
This is not just a governance challenge, it is a cultural correction.
1 Rebuilding Civic Ethics
We must reintroduce the idea that public behavior is a reflection of personal character. Civic sense should be taught not just as a rule, but as a value, beginning from schools, homes, and communities.
2 Humanizing the Road
Every pedestrian is someone’s parent.
Every commuter is someone’s child.
If we begin to see people instead of obstacles, our behavior will change naturally.
3 Leadership by Example
Change does not begin with the masses, it begins with individuals who choose to act differently. If even a fraction of us commit to discipline, it will create a ripple effect.
4 Consistent Accountability
Rules must be applied without exception. Selective enforcement weakens the very idea of justice.
Youth as Catalysts of Change
The youth of Kashmir carry immense potential, not just to adapt, but to transform. If guided correctly, they can redefine the culture of our roads.
A Personal Reflection
As someone who has spent years working on road safety, I have seen both the tragedy of negligence and the power of awareness. I have witnessed lives lost in moments of impatience, and families shattered because someone chose convenience over caution.
But I have also seen hope, in young volunteers, in responsible citizens, in small acts of kindness on the road.
That hope tells me that change is still possible.
A Call to Conscience
This is not just about traffic. This is about who we are becoming as a society.
Let us not wait for stricter laws to behave responsibly.
Let us not wait for tragedy to realize the value of discipline.
Let us act, not because we fear penalties, but because we value people.
Kashmir has always been known for its culture, its warmth, its sense of community. It is time our roads reflect that again.
Because in the end, the true measure of a society is not how fast it moves, But how responsibly it moves together.
Road safety is not just the responsibility of traffic police or administration, it is a collective duty. Every time we choose to break a rule, park irresponsibly, or behave aggressively, we contribute to the disorder we complain about.
Kashmir deserves better. Our roads should reflect the beauty, discipline, and dignity that define our culture.
Change will not come overnight, but it must begin today, with each one of us.
Let us respect our roads.
Let us respect each other.
Let us bring back the civic sense that Kashmir truly stands for.
Because safer roads are not built by laws alone,they are built by people.
