Islamabad Locals Turn Traffic Speed Meters Into Hilarious Race Challenge

In an amusing twist, residents of Islamabad have turned roadside speed meters—typically installed to monitor vehicle speeds—into devices for competing their running speeds. The moment was captured in a viral Instagram video that has quickly spread across social media.

The video shows groups of locals gathering along a busy city street, lining up to sprint past the digital speed displays. Participants race one after another, with the meters flashing their running speeds, usually between the speeds ranged from 13 kilometers per hour to 34 kilometers per hour. The scene captures people of different ages laughing and competing, turning a regular traffic monitoring setup into a jolly community event.

In the footage, some runners are seen making multiple attempts to beat their previous scores, while others watch and cheer from the sidewalks. Despite the informal setting, the races seem organized, with participants waiting for their turn and encouraging each other to go faster.

However, the speed meter looks like it malfunctioned a few times, showing completely random numbers while the runners crossed it. Perhaps it is due to the fact that speed meters are made to measure vehicle speeds, not human speeds.

The challenge appears to be done in a safe way, with no traffic in sight on the roads. It would seem that the fun little race was done late at night to avoid any dangers of ongoing traffic.

The residents found a playful way to interact with everyday city infrastructure, transforming a typical evening into a fun competition. With the video gaining traction online, many have praised the creativity and sense of fun shown in this spontaneous race.