Better planning can reduce traffic fatalities: seminar

Students, teachers attend road safety seminar at GCU.

LAHORE: The high fatality rate in traffic accidents in Pakistan can be brought down by effective planning and abiding by traffic rules, speakers at a road safety seminar said on Monday.

The event was held at Government College University (GCU).

A number of students and teachers were present at the seminar which was organised by the Horticulture Society in collaboration with the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) at the university’s Bokhari Auditorium.



Intelligence Bureau DIG Azeem Arshad, NH&MP Training College Commandant SSP Mirza Faran Baig, SSP Syed Baqir Raza, singer Jawad Ahmad and GCU Dean of Sciences Dr Islamullah spoke at the event.

Arshad said that road safety was a major issue in the country.

“We need to change our attitude towards traffic rules. It is imperative for all stakeholders to make collective efforts for road safety,” he said.

He said that modern technology should be used to create a better road safety environment for motorists in the country.

Baig said that a majority of people were unaware of road safety rules.

“There is an absence of education, enforcement and engineering in the traffic sector. The behaviour of road users is also a major issue,” he said.

Baig said the number of accidents could be reduced using new strategies. “All public and private sector institutes need to play their role in strengthening road safety. Road safety literature should be a part of syllabus,” he said.

Ahmad said that it was imperative for everyone to be aware of and to address road safety problems.

“We need to take immediate action to protect ourselves and others on roads,” he said.

He praised the NH&MP’s efforts to improve traffic discipline on national highways.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.