CTP adopts novel approach to curbing one-wheeling

Bikers asked to restore altered bikes to original state before taking possession

RAWALPINDI: The City Traffic Police (CTP) has taken a different course of action to prevent the deadly practice of one-wheeling on altered motorcycles.

The impounded altered motorbikes of daredevil bikers would not be released after just payment of fines. The police will now only return the bikes once they are restored to their original condition.

Most one-wheelers alter their motorcycles by taking off the company-fitted parts in order to improve their bike’s speed and to make one-wheeling easier.

Sources in the traffic police told The Express Tribune that over a 1,000 motorcycles were seized over violation of one-wheeling since Eidul Fitr till now. He added that the reformative programme was initiated by high officials of the traffic police to discourage the increasing trend of the deadly sport of one-wheeling among the youth.

Furthermore, the officer said that under-age daredevil riders would not only complete the formalities but they would also submit an affidavit signed by their parents stating that they would never indulge in the deadly sport again.

A traffic police officer said that one-wheeling enthusiasts altered their motorcycles immediately after they purchased it. He added that the speedometer, indicators, motor-guards etc were removed to make it light-weight while more than a thousand motorcycles that were seized during the crackdown were not in their original condition.

The officer reiterated that such seized bikes would not be handed over to the owners after just submitting fines and fulfilling other legal formalities. He added that they would have to restore their bikes in their original condition and fit removed parts by themselves without the help of any mechanic. He said that only then the motorcycles would be released from the police station.

He added that the measures would definitely help in reforming the adventurers who put their lives at risk.

Awareness

CTP Education Wing on the directive of City Traffic Officer (CTO) Muhammad Bin Ashraf had accelerated the public awareness campaign about traffic rules and road safety, while the road users particularly those who use social media were advised to visit facebook page 'city traffic police rwp' to get information about traffic rules and road safety.

The CTO said awareness pamphlets were being distributed among the road users during special traffic awareness campaign.

The traffic police officers have been directed to ensure that the road users strictly observe traffic signs, signals, traffic rules and regulations on the city roads, he added.

He said the pamphlets were being distributed among the public, especially frequent road users, to spread awareness about traffic rules.

Muhammad Bin Ashraf informed that lectures, seminars, walks and radio programmes were being arranged besides using other media of communication to spread awareness among the general public.

The CTP officials were creating traffic rules awareness among the citizens, as well as striving hard to regulate the city traffic, he added.

Moreover, he said that the citizens, during the awareness campaign, being informed that the use of mobile phone while driving is dangerous and the habit should be avoided altogether.

The Education Wing had been making efforts to spread road safety awareness among the public so that road journey could be made safe and easy for all road users.

The CTO advised the citizens particularly the students to visit CTP's social media facebook page to get information about traffic rules.

The page has all the information about traffic guidance, awareness, driving licenses, learning permits, traffic updates, precautionary measures to avoid road accidents, information for motorcyclists, risks involved in one-wheeling, parking and other rules and what should be the role of the parents.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2019.