Preventing casualties: Punjab devises plan to reduce road crashes

Officials recommend legislation on road safety authority within two months.

LAHORE: The Punjab government has formulated a plan of action to prevent traffic accidents and casualties across the province in view of the findings of a high-level committee.

Reckless and rash driving, mechanical faults in vehicles, road geometric designs, lack of traffic sense and illiterate drivers are among the main causes of road accidents.

Fake fitness certification of vehicles are also said to play main role in causing deadly accidents.

The committee was formed by Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif a couple of weeks ago and met at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday. Committee Co-Convener and Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Shamail Ahmad Khawaja presided over the meeting, which went through the inquiry reports of the inspection team.

A plan of action has been formulated in the light of the findings and recommendations besides suggesting effective measures to ensure its implementation.

The plan comprises enactment of Punjab Road Safety Authority Act within the next two months. This will empower the traffic police and the traffic engineering staff to modernise driving schools, testing and licensing system besides improving road geometry designing and identification of black spots.

The chief minister has already established Punjab Road Safety Authority through an executive order.

The meeting suggested that vehicles fitness and certification stations should be set up at district level. Similarly, the Directorate of Road Safety Audit should also be established in each district headquarter. The meeting decided to address the current gaps of law in the Motor Vehicle Ordinance and a new bill titled ‘Punjab Road Safety Authority Act’ will separately introduce in the Punjab Assembly for promulgation.

Both the laws will be implemented at the same time while establishment of standardised schools of motoring will also be promoted in private sector, Shumail said.

It has also been suggested to provide monitory assistance as compensation to heirs of the victims of all involved in road traffic incidents whether they are commuters or passersby.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2017.