Traffic woes: City’s wardens too few to control over 0.4m vehicles

Current number of traffic wardens is 1,100, must be increased to 1,900.

PESHAWAR: With over 0.4 million vehicles on the roads of Peshawar — ranging from cars, buses to rickshaws and carts — the city’s traffic police wardens are too few to regulate the flow, an official said.

Currently, there are over 1,100 traffic wardens deployed at various duty points on the city’s roads to control traffic stream. However, according to Traffic Headquarters DSP Rahim Hussain, the strength should be increased to an estimated 1,900 to improve the system.

In an interview with The Express Tribune on Peshawar’s traffic issues, Hussain says the current strength of wardens cannot manage the entire city. He explains there is no traffic warden system on Dalazak Road, Pajaggi Road and Charsadda Road despite a constant flow of vehicles.



He suggests need-based deployment on Warsak Road where a large number of private schools and colleges have been established. “We call wardens from other spots to deploy them on Warsak Road for the safety of schoolchildren,” he says.

Improving situation

However, Hussain claims the traffic system has improved compared to the past. He credits the current government’s policies and the police department for assuring their implementation.  “Traffic education and awareness have increased among commuters after traffic police started campaigns at different sites in the city,” Hussain says.

He further explains “fish bellies” [a sort of U-turn] constructed on the city’s roads have helped control traffic jams. “Prior to its construction, the roads would be jammed for hours, but now the issue has been fixed,” says the DSP.

He adds the government recently provided at least forty motorbikes to the wardens to help improve situation on roads.

Narrow paths 

Presently, he says the services offered by traffic police are an accident recovery unit, traffic mobile workshop, emergency diversion plan unit, education and awareness unit, traffic monitoring through video surveillance system, snap checking and traffic helpline 1915.



When asked about the main issues in the city’s traffic system, he reveals roads are too narrow to accommodate the number of vehicles. Furthermore, the public transport system is in a retrograde condition and most commuters prefer to travel in private transport. “The overflow of private vehicles adds to traffic problems,” he believes Talking about the issues of bus stands, he says they do arrest drivers who violate laws, but the traffic department does not have the authority to close these establishments or fine any managers.

“The transport department is always asking relevant authorities to take action against bus stands, but traffic laws do not have any clause that applies to them.” Hussain adds, “It falls under the domain of the Regional Transport Department to initiate action against illegal bus stands.”

He suggests that traffic education be provided at each and every educational institute as he believes it will help increase commuters’ knowledge about rules and regulations.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2016.