Measures needed to tackle increasing road accidents

Rescue 1122 director general says number of crashes has tripled during the last five years

LAHORE: Several fatal road traffic crashes were reported during the week, highlighting the need for effective measures to deal with such incidents.

On Wednesday, at least four people died and six others were injured in two separate incidents.

Firstly, a truck rammed into two motorcycles and a four wheeler near Phatak Pull on Lahore-Kasur Road, killing two people and injuring six.

On the same day, a 35-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were killed after their motorcycle collided with a bus near the depot bus stop in Green Town.

On Thursday, a minor girl identified as two-year-old Hina was killed after a pickup truck rammed into a motorcycle near Wapda Town Roundabout.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, 24-year-old Sabzazar died after a speeding car ran her over as she attempted to cross the road.

Further, an 18-year-old died in Garhi Shahu after a train ran him over at a railway crossing.

Road traffic accidents are a serious problem in the metropolis which claims numerous lives and causes countless injuries. According to unofficial estimates, a person loses their life in a traffic accident in Lahore daily.

On the other hand, data from Rescue 1122 shows that on an average the service deals with 900 road accidents in the province on a daily basis.

However, the consistent increase in these incidents is perhaps what is most alarming.

According to Rescue 1122 Director General Rizwan Naseer, the number of road traffic crashes has tripled during the last five years.

From 2004 to 2014, Rescue 1122 has dealt with approximately 0.7 million traffic accidents.

This number has jumped to 2.2 million during the past five years. He added that road traffic crashes increased by 25 per cent in 2018 as compared to 2017.

In light of this worrying trend, City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) recently decided to become the complainant in all traffic accidents reported if the victim’s family refuses to do so.

The decision was taken after reports surfaced that in the majority of accidents, families of victims refuse to become complainants and culprits are able to walk scot-free.

The idea that culprits can get away with such incidents has encouraged them to continue driving recklessly on the roads, a CTPL official stated.

In this regard, City Division Senior Traffic Officer Hammad Qureshi issued an order to the sector in charges to become the complainant if the victim or his family refused to pursue legal action.

Officials were directed to register an FIR or face departmental action.

Meanwhile, preparations to ensure foolproof security during Muharramul Haram remained the top priority for the top brass of the Lahore and Punjab police.

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Arif Nawaz conducted an RPO conference and directed field officers to comply by his standing orders and standard operating procedures for Muharram.

Field officers throughout Lahore remained occupied with conducting meetings with members of public police committees and other stakeholders as well as ensuring other security arrangements.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2019.