Motorbike speed capped at 60km/h

Two-wheelers involved in 73% of road crashes

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LAHORE:

The Punjab government has set a maximum speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour for motorcycles across the province.

The decision, approved by the Punjab Cabinet, has been notified, making it enforceable with immediate effect.

According to officials, the measure aims to reduce the rising number of motorcycle accidents, which have been a major contributor to road injuries and fatalities.

The provincial transport department has instructed all traffic police personnel to ensure strict compliance with the new speed limit.

The transport secretary has issued directives for stringent enforcement, warning that violations will result in penalties and legal action.

Additionally, emergency service departments have been asked to provide comprehensive data on motorcycle accidents to assess the effectiveness of the new regulation.

"The government is committed to making the roads safer and this decision will help bring down the number of crashes involving motorcycles," a senior transport department official said.

Officials also hinted at stricter penalties for other traffic rule violations in the near future.

They said the enforcement of the reduced speed limit would be closely monitored by senior officers.

Motorbikes were involved in as many as 73 per cent of the 1,170 road traffic crashes (RTCs) recorded in all districts of Punjab during the past 24 hours.

Official data showed that at least 17 people had died and 1,330 had been injured in the road accidents.

Then data showed that 1,067 motorbikes, 74 auto-rickshaws, 125 cars, 37 vans, 16 buses, 24 trucks and 111 other types of vehicles and carts were involved in the accidents.

Of the injured, 532 people were shifted to hospitals, while 798 were treated at the incident sites by Rescue Medical Teams.

The victims included 724 adult and 52 underage drivers, 161 pedestrians and 462 passengers.

The statistics showed that 245 RTCs were reported in Lahore, which affected 296 persons, followed by 81 in Faisalabad with 100 victims and 62 in Multan with 63 victims.

The 1,120 male and 227 female victims included 201 under 18 years of age, 796 between 18 and 40 years and 350 above 40 years.

Begging at signals

Meanwhile, City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) has arrested a man involved in forcing children to beg at traffic signals.

A Traffic Police spokesperson said the operation was conducted near Doctor Hospital Chowk, where Inspector Khalid and traffic warden Adnan spotted the suspect using children for begging.

The accused, identified as Fazal Rehman, a resident of Gawalmandi, would bring children to traffic signals daily to exploit them for begging.

During the crackdown on child beggars, the ringleader attempted to flee, but Circle Officer Younis and his team chased and arrested him. The suspect was handed over to the Johar Town Police Station, where an FIR was registered under the Human Trafficking Act 2018.

CTO Lahore, Dr Muhammad Athar Waheed, commended the officers for their swift action and awarded them with certificates of appreciation.