Traffic violations: Overtaking main cause of accidents on Islamabad Expressway

Motorists demand authorities enforce traffic rules.

ISLAMABAD: Overtaking and traffic violations by truck drivers have become the leading cause of accidents on the Islamabad Expressway, which links the federal capital with Rawalpindi and GT Road.      

Overloaded trucks plying on the main thoroughfare pose a very serious danger to the motorists as they often veer out of the designated lane to overtake each other, forcing the small vehicles to slow down.

This creates inconvenience for motorists, who, in turn try to overtake the trucks from the wrong side and increases the chance of accidents, said a commuter.

“It is always frustrating for motorists when both lanes are occupied by trucks in open violation of traffic rules. They force us to move at a speed of 10 to 20 kilometres per hour,” said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Bahria Town.

He said that many housing societies were located on the main highway and the residents of these societies use the road on a daily basis, which results in bumper to bumper traffic during peak hours.

The situation, it is feared, would become worse in the next two to three years following the completion of work on under-development societies.

“Traffic police are rarely observed on this section of the highway. Most drivers break them with impunity,” said Rehman.

“The reduced speed limit of 40kph is not observed and the road remains without proper lane-markings,” he added.

As far as further widening of the highway is concerned, a CDA official said, “No immediate plan to widen or repair the road was underway. However, he said discussions in this regard were in progress and the project could be initiated following the approval of the Joint Venture Ordinance, which is under consideration.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2013.