Traffic is a beautiful word and no doubt this traffic helps us all to move from one place to another by car, train, boat or airplane. By adding Jam word, it suddenly changed into a nightmare and painful word i.e. TRAFFIC JAM. I think there is no person in this world who have never experienced or felt the pain of traffic jams. We all are well aware of this horrible word.
I have experienced traffic jams in different parts of the world but never seen any solution for it yet instead it is increasing day by day. It is a disaster in urban areas. Population growth means more vehicles on the roads. However, so many bridges and underpasses were built recently, but I see no major impact on traffic jams. I think we, the people, are major problem of this issue. First of all, we all are in so much of hurry that we don’t follow any traffic rules and regulations which causes traffic jams. We just park the cars wherever we want to, break signals. The whole cities are in the same situation in peak hours. Other main problem is protests which causes road blocks and traffic is diverted on alternate routes that turns into a traffic jam. Last but not the least, bumpy broken roads which slows down flow of traffic.
This is so common thing in my city and we all are used to it. This is the part of our daily routine, getting late for work and being stuck in traffic when going back home in the evening. We all have accepted it as we are helpless and do not have any other choice. Sometimes, it is so irritating, stressful and frustrating situation when you are unable to reach someone on committed time or miss any important part of special event. Sometimes, it is sad when you see an ambulance is stuck in it and nothing can be done to get the space for it to pass through.
Traffic jams are similar in Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey. I am talking about these three countries because I have experienced traffic jams there by myself. Most of the times in Pakistan, we voluntarily work together to clear the roads or return all vehicles to take alternate routes. This is never easy to make understand other people to do something that we are asking for, which is in the end useful for themselves. Tough job!!!
There are many stories related to traffic jam. I would like to share one of them which is also the worst experience I ever had. It was from Turkey, when going back to Pakistan from Sweden. Me and my Mother had more than 12 hours of stay in Turkey to get the connecting flight for Karachi. So, we were provided with accommodation in one of the affiliated hotels which was like 40 minutes of drive from the airport. We had a night stay there and had breakfast buffet. There I met a gentleman who was also in the same flight and we had a little chitchat. He asked me are you ready to go to airport. I said no, why should we go so early and wait there for 6-7 hours. He told me that if you won’t get in this transit van then the other one will come after 3 hours and it will be difficult for you to catch the flight if you get stuck in traffic. Thinking of my Mother, I said will manage and just did some calculation. We were having the boarding passes already so it would be enough if make it there 1 hour before the flight time.
So, we took the other transit van to airport. After just 5 minutes of drive, van started slowing down and then, it was a horrible traffic jam ahead. I mean I never thought of that coming. I was thinking that they have big roads and it won’t be a problem as it is Turkey not Pakistan where we reach airport 5 hours prior to flight. But guess what? I was totally wrong. It was a worst scenario where we got trapped but I didn’t tell this to my Mother. Too many things were going in my mind, what we are going to do if we miss that flight. Each and every minute was terrible. I was praying that this van somehow fly us to airport before it is too late. It took us 2.5 hours to reach airport and we hurriedly ran to the terminal to catch the flight. Thank God, gate was not closed and we were onboard. That moment, I realize it is better to be early than late. Also if someone gives you advice, better think of it twice before taking any action. I never thought that 40 minutes of drive will turn into 150 minutes of drive and that can be more worst. I still remember that queue of vehicles in front of our van.
This is my true life story of traffic jam. I just hope no one ever get stuck in this stressful and frustrating situation.
All above pictures are taken by me through my cell phone Moto E4. Youtube clip is of Turkey, captured by me through my video camera.