Amid smog, road crashes fewer but deadlier

While number of accidents has remained stable, more deaths have been reported

LAHORE: Road crashes have become deadlier in Punjab since the prevailing smog hit the north-eastern districts of the province. While comparative data shows the number of traffic accidents remained almost the same, the number of deaths in the accidents increased considerably.

Since November 2, a thick blanket of fog loaded with pollutants and dust has engulfed Lahore and its adjoining districts, causing breathing problems and disrupting normal traffic.



A comparison of Rescue 1122 data for the past smog-covered week and the week before the unusual weather enveloped Lahore shows that 4,450 road accidents were reported between October 24 and October 30 throughout Punjab, in which 5,231 victims suffered injuries while 56 people died. The data available with The Express Tribune reveals that during the week between October 31 and November 6, at least 4,434 traffic accidents were reported across Punjab, in which 4,747 people suffered injuries but 86 people lost their life.

Week prior to smog

On October 24, 716 road accidents were reported with 11 deaths and 888 injuries.  On October 25, there were 622 accidents in which five deaths and 715 injuries were reported.

On October 26, 610 road accidents were reported across Punjab, in which seven people died and 702 were injured. On October 27, there were 578 accidents where nine people died and 653 received injuries.

On October 28, there were 662 road crashes, in which six people died and 762 were injured.  On October 29, 696 people were injured in which three persons died and 817 persons injured.

On October 30, 566 road crashes were reported, in which 15 people lost their lives and 694 people received injuries. On October 31, 669 traffic accidents were reported, in which five people lost their lives and 778 suffered injuries.

When the smog came

On November 1, there were 598 accidents, in which 15 people died and 685 victims were injured. On November 2, 587 traffic mishaps were reported, in which 11 victims died and 611 received injuries.

On November 3, 610 accidents were reported in which 20 persons died and 575 received injuries. On November 4, 621 road crashes were reported, in which nine people died and 695 people were injured.



On November 5, 664 traffic accidents were reported, in which nine victims died and 800 people suffered injuries. On November 6, there were 685 road crashes where 17 people died and 601 people got injured.

Safety first

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Jam Sajjad Hussain said the flow of traffic had decreased on roads during fog or smog as people were avoiding coming on the roads. “Motorists reducing speed because of visibility issues is another reason the number of traffic accidents has decreased a bit,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2016.