Faisalabad traffic police continues awareness campaign

In August, Traffic Education Unit held seminars, awareness camps, and lectures at general bus stands

FAISALABAD: Traffic Education Unit of Faisalabad’s traffic police is seeking gradual success through awareness on traffic rules among the general public. More than 100 events are being conducted in a month to address hundreds of people in order to create awareness.

In the month of August, the education unit held awareness seminars, traffic awareness walk and camps, special drives for special days including the drive against one-wheeling on Independence Day and lectures at general bus stands.

The seminars are arranged in public and private schools to educate the youth and also conducted in factories.

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City Traffic Police engaged traffic wardens of all districts to make special announcements regarding traffic rules at important points of the city. A monthly report issued by the education unit revealed that members of the unit team used different communication channels to create awareness on traffic rules and safety. The team arranged 7 events through television programmes, radio and social media, 22 seminars and traffic camps, 4 dedicated safety campaigns on special days observed and 75 public awareness programmes for drivers and students.

As many as 400 banners and 6,000 pamphlets, with awareness slogans, were distributed among pedestrians and travelers. Traffic police introduced its special slogans including “Seat belt is life belt” and  “Road safety is life safety” to appeal to citizens

Traffic Unit In-charge Waqas Ali Warraich said that the education unit is making utmost efforts to educate the people. “Effective messages and awareness for safety can save lives of many people and help organise traffic in the city.”

He added that focus is on encouraging motorcyclists to wear helmets for safety. “More than 50,000 people are motorcyclists in Faisalabad. Many of the motorcyclists, who have met an accident, are those who did not wear a helmet.

He further said, “To avoid accidents, it is important to use side mirrors, follow traffic signals and use the appropriate lane on main roads.”

Reckless driving is also one of the main causes of accidents, he maintained.” The education unit also created messages for car drivers to avoid over speeding and follow the speed limit mentioned on roads.”

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The traffic unit in-charge clarified that people showed their interest in learning more about traffic rules and admitted to not knowing some of the rules. “Implementation of rules can minimise traffic problems and road accidents, he added.

A transport company manager at a general bus stand attended a traffic awareness workshop and shared that there are 40 transport companies in general bus stand with more than 1,500 drivers. The drivers attended awareness workshops and learnt the traffic rules, he added.

He explained that the transport companies imposed traffic rules and regulations, prescribed by the traffic police, on their drivers. “If any complaint is received about our driver not following the rules, he is dismissed from the job.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, District Emergency Officer Ahtsham Wahala said that the toll of motorcycle accidents is very high in Faisalabad. “Two or three casualties in a collision involving motorcycles has become a routine matter.”

The officer added that most motorcycle users sustained head injuries during accidents which lead to death. “The use of helmets can minimise the threat of head injuries.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2019.