Rough on roads: Traffic police fail to control speeding
Nadeem Ahmad was hit by speeding vehicle about a year ago and has still not recovered
PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
The traffic police have failed to control the issue of speeding, a reason behind every fourth accident in the provincial metropolis. This is evident from the data obtained by The Express Tribune from Rescue 1122 that states 11,028 incidents out of 43,231 accidents reported till December 7 were road-related.
Speeding does not only affect the driver, but those present on the road at the same time also bear the brunt.
A teacher by profession, Nadeem Ahmad, had his movement restrained after he met an accident near Multan Chungi. He was riding a motorbike when a speeding vehicle hit him so hard he went flying, falling in a nearby drain. Subsequently, his bones broke. He was admitted in hospital for over a month and had to take bed rest for a year.
“I still find it hard to walk and even drive,” he said. “I was an athlete during my college days and really to jog and do exercise.” He said the accident has left him to take steps carefully and now he cannot even run. “It seems like all the energy has been sucked out of my body.”
Moreover, while he was being treated he remained unemployed and was going through a crisis situation because he had used all his savings in medical expenditures.
While condemning the hazard that speeding is, Dr Salman Kazmi, of Mayo Hospital, said speeding causes lethal injuries, like those to the head and spinal cord. “These can also claim life – even those who survive are left with a permanent disability,” he added. “Life does not remain the same for the victim.”
Erratic paths
The traffic mess on roads in the provincial metropolis is also a reason behind traffic accidents. Those who get stuck in traffic jams try to take their vehicles out by dodging others in the lane.
The data of FIRs registered against speeding drivers showed that at least 6,257 cases were registered. Out of the count, 567 were from Ichhra, 500 from Naseerabad, 418 Gulberg, 325 Muslim Town, 319 South Cantt, 229 Mughalpura and the rest were from areas within the jurisdictions of other police stations. Registered FIRs showed that over 60% of the incidents occurred during 8am in the morning to 11:59 pm at night- the time when city traffic police is on roads.
However, while talking to The Express Tribune Traffic DIG Ahmad Mobeen said speeding was impossible during the day in the metropolis. He added it was done mostly during late hours and cannot be controlled since traffic sergeants are not on the roads during those hours.
He maintained there were a few thoroughfares like Canal and Ferozpur roads where speeding was possible, but the traffic wardens controlled it through enforcement.
Mobeen said they can only impart awareness to the public and they were doing so by distributing pamphlets, putting up banners, giving lectures at educational institutes and issuing advertisements in newspapers.
Besides, he said, they have also taken action on violations, including registrations of cases under criminal offences against violators.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2016.
The traffic police have failed to control the issue of speeding, a reason behind every fourth accident in the provincial metropolis. This is evident from the data obtained by The Express Tribune from Rescue 1122 that states 11,028 incidents out of 43,231 accidents reported till December 7 were road-related.
Speeding does not only affect the driver, but those present on the road at the same time also bear the brunt.
A teacher by profession, Nadeem Ahmad, had his movement restrained after he met an accident near Multan Chungi. He was riding a motorbike when a speeding vehicle hit him so hard he went flying, falling in a nearby drain. Subsequently, his bones broke. He was admitted in hospital for over a month and had to take bed rest for a year.
“I still find it hard to walk and even drive,” he said. “I was an athlete during my college days and really to jog and do exercise.” He said the accident has left him to take steps carefully and now he cannot even run. “It seems like all the energy has been sucked out of my body.”
Moreover, while he was being treated he remained unemployed and was going through a crisis situation because he had used all his savings in medical expenditures.
While condemning the hazard that speeding is, Dr Salman Kazmi, of Mayo Hospital, said speeding causes lethal injuries, like those to the head and spinal cord. “These can also claim life – even those who survive are left with a permanent disability,” he added. “Life does not remain the same for the victim.”
Erratic paths
The traffic mess on roads in the provincial metropolis is also a reason behind traffic accidents. Those who get stuck in traffic jams try to take their vehicles out by dodging others in the lane.
The data of FIRs registered against speeding drivers showed that at least 6,257 cases were registered. Out of the count, 567 were from Ichhra, 500 from Naseerabad, 418 Gulberg, 325 Muslim Town, 319 South Cantt, 229 Mughalpura and the rest were from areas within the jurisdictions of other police stations. Registered FIRs showed that over 60% of the incidents occurred during 8am in the morning to 11:59 pm at night- the time when city traffic police is on roads.
However, while talking to The Express Tribune Traffic DIG Ahmad Mobeen said speeding was impossible during the day in the metropolis. He added it was done mostly during late hours and cannot be controlled since traffic sergeants are not on the roads during those hours.
He maintained there were a few thoroughfares like Canal and Ferozpur roads where speeding was possible, but the traffic wardens controlled it through enforcement.
Mobeen said they can only impart awareness to the public and they were doing so by distributing pamphlets, putting up banners, giving lectures at educational institutes and issuing advertisements in newspapers.
Besides, he said, they have also taken action on violations, including registrations of cases under criminal offences against violators.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2016.