Avoiding accidents: Ombudsman seeks transport policy, road safety plan

Directs NHA chairman, Motorways police chief to file report on improving discipline among motorists

ISLAMABAD:

The federal ombudsman has directed the government to prepare an annual National Road Safety Plan (NRSP) and National Transport Policy (NTP) for national highways and motorways within 30 days in order to avoid road accidents in the country.

The directions came during a meeting chaired by Federal Ombudsman Salman Farooqui and the basic objective of the meeting is to protect commuter rights, said Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmed Khokhar, senior adviser at the Federal Ombudsman.

Sharing details of the meeting, Khokar said that the ombudsman directed National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar and National Highways and Motorways Police (NH&MP) IG Muhammad Saleem Bhatti to prepare annual NRSP and NTP and submit a detailed report within 30 days. He also asked them to give recommendations on improving traffic discipline in the country, Khokhar said.

The report from heads of two organisations, one a builder of national highways and other top traffic manager, will include recommendations for road safety and improving roads infrastructure, including facilities for commuters. The report will also include proposals for educating road users on traffic rules, the adviser said.

The ombudsman, during the meeting, noted that more 55,000 people die annually in road accidents across the country. Farooqui voiced hope that the government will consider implementing the recommendations for preventing road crashes and the soaring death toll. The proposals coming from NHA chairman and NH&MP IG will also help improve the road infrastructure, he said.

The ombudsman also observed that since the issue is related to public interest, another meeting should be held in which manufacturers of vehicles, spare parts, officials of ministries of communication, industries and representative of engineering board should be called in to seek their input on measures for avoiding accidents.

He also suggested that the communication ministry may conduct short courses for the motorists on road safety and traffic rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2016.