‘Poor tyres, braking systems cause accidents’

NH & MP organises seminar on road safety.

LAHORE:

The Consumer Association of Pakistan plans on sending vehicle manufactures legal notices for “not following international safety standards”.

This was stated by the association’s chairperson Kaukab Iqbal on Saturday while addressing a seminar on road safety, which was organised by the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP).

Iqbal told The Express Tribune that they had received several complaints about Pakistani car and bike manufacturers. Car companies, he said, fix substandard tyres and fail to install airbags and auto braking system (ABS), which result in accidents.

He said that motorbike manufactures also neglected safety by installing bad-quality tyres.

In case the consumers’ demand is ignored, CAP plans on taking the case to a consumer court and later the Supreme Court if need be. Iqbal said the association will advertise and invite consumers to file their complaints with the association.

Asim Ayaz, a representative of the Engineering Development Board, called the system of checking vehicle fitness “not compatible” with international standards. Most of the vehicles on the roads are not fit for driving, he said, adding that implementation of an efficient Vehicle Fitness System was necessary to ensure road safety.

In his opinion, efficient regulation was not possible because of the large number of small transport companies that have mushroomed as a result of the government’s failure to provide good public transportation.

Mirza Faran Baig, Central-I SSP, told participants that 50 million people get injured in traffic accidents every year worldwide and 3,000 deaths caused by accidents are reported daily.  He listed a causal attitude, over speeding, over confidence and use of mobile as the main causes of road accidents.

Nasir Iqbal, the NH&MP coordinator (Road Safety Wing), talked about the initiatives taken by the NH&MP to improve road safety, which included 130 Helpline, mobile education units, SMS information service, first aid services, and establishment of training schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2012.