Wheels of fury: ‘90% accidents caused by motorcyclists’

Punjab rescue DG reviews data of incidents in 2016

LAHORE: Over 90% of traffic accidents occur due to the involvement of motorcycles and in several cases, breadwinners of families are affected.

This was disclosed by Punjab Rescue DG Dr Rizwan Naseer as he reviewed the data of road traffic accidents in 2016, He looked into the causes and types of vehicles involved. The DG expressed serious concern with the increasing number of incidents.

The DG said the road safety system was vital to protect human lives. A Rescue Mohafiz Programme was launched to establish community emergency response teams in all union councils of Punjab and reduce risks through public participation.

He said that the Government of Punjab was also adopting the Swedish model to reduce accidents, adding measures for road safety are also being made a part of the syllabus for students. He added it was essential to promote awareness among people in this regard.

The DG said the establishment of the Punjab Road Safety Authority would result in an effective mechanism and include a licencing, traffic engineering, vehicles fitness, registration, database and management systems.

“Only trained drivers can ensure the safety of life in Punjab,” he added.

He was briefed that the service responded to over 238,782 emergency calls and saved 283,085 people from disability, while 227,390 accidents calls were reported in 2015. This showed an increase of 11,392 accidents in a year.

Similarly, 112,616 drivers, 7,296 underage drivers, 39,361 pedestrians and 131,108 passengers were affected by these crashes.

The statistics show that 46,060 RTAs were reported to the Lahore Control Room in 2016 and they affected 47,234 people. The provincial capital was followed by Faisalabad with 23,400 accidents with 27,977 victims and Multan with 13,906 incidents that affect 16,438 people.

The details showed that out of 283,085 victims affected by road crashes, there were 224,407 men and 58,678 women.

A total of 194,966 motorbikes, 35,461 auto rickshaws, 25,693 motorcars, 12,961 vans and 3,123 passenger buses, 7,875 trucks, 25,844 other types of vehicles and slow moving carts were involved in the aforesaid incidents.

The main cause of accidents in Lahore district was cited as speeding by people between 11 and 20 years of age. Many people also suffered multiple injuries due to accidents involving motorcycles.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2017.