As a result of the traffic police’s failure to enforce its writ in Lahore, motorcyclists flout the requirement of a helmet with impunity and if they do wear helmets, the quality is often substandard, which does not help in accidents.
After several campaigns falling on deaf ears, it seems that the traffic police has now given up on implementing the helmet requirement in Punjab’s most populated city. Resultantly, motorcyclists can be seen whizzing around Lahore without any regard for their safety or any worry about being fined as the traffic police acts like a silent spectator. In this regard, Dr Rizwan Naseer, Director General (DG) of Rescue 1122, was of the view that the city’s traffic police needs to clamp down on violators immediately to decrease the number of accidents, which were presently rising.
“The police need to enforce the helmet rule religiously for motorcyclists,” Dr Naseer suggested, “moreover, there needs to be a check on the standard of helmets being worn because if the helmet is of poor quality, it will be of little help in an accident.”
The DG further suggested that the police needed to put up maximum speed limit signs for motorcyclists and make sure that bikers actually followed the limit. “Between 50 to 60 kilometres per hour (kmh) is a decent speed limit for a bike,” he opined. The Express Tribune also asked the City Traffic Police Chief, Dr Asad Malhi, about motorcyclists flouting traffic laws with impunity. “We are trying to enforce the helmet rule and have started by implementing it strictly on Mall Road, Ferozepur Road, Jail Road, and Multan Road,” replied Dr Malhi, adding that soon the regulation would be implemented throughout Lahore and violators would be fined heavily.
When pointed out that past campaigns of implementing traffic laws had failed, Dr Malhi said that now the police was going to educate people in schools, universities, and other areas so they understand that the traffic police are concerned for their safety. With regard to substandard helmets, the Traffic Police Chief was of the view that there was a need to enforce a uniform standard for helmets through the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority.
“It is true that no one is inquiring about the sale of substandard helmets. Only a good helmet can help bikers avoid any brain injuries if they ever meet with an accident,” said Dr Malhi while talking to The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2023.
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