Road accidents claim more lives than terrorism, says IG
‘The situation is bad enough to declare a national emergency’.
"We prize merit above all and never discriminate. This is why we have earned the right to stand tall and proud as one of the best institutions in the country," Zulfiqar Cheema of NHMP.
MULTAN:
“Road accidents claim as many as 12,000 lives on average each year,” Highway and Motorway Inspector General Zulfiqar Cheema said at seminar at Ramada Hotel on Monday, “That is way more than the number of deaths from terrorism.”
The seminar was held to discuss key issues regarding road safety, the need to create awareness through schools and an educational campaign by the motorway police.
More than 80 per cent accidents occur due to violation of traffic rules, he said, this raises the question of why licences are issued to incompetent drivers. Cheema said that many drivers were not even aware of basic traffic laws like following traffic signals and putting on seat belts. The situation is bad enough to declare it a national emergency and deal with it accordingly, he said.
Some of the most common causes of road accidents include road rage, speeding, racing other cars and driving under the influence, he said. “The awareness seminars conducted by the Highway and Motorway Police have helped saved many lives,” he said. “Our personnel have strong principles... there is a reason why we are generally considered a corruption-free institution.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2013.
“Road accidents claim as many as 12,000 lives on average each year,” Highway and Motorway Inspector General Zulfiqar Cheema said at seminar at Ramada Hotel on Monday, “That is way more than the number of deaths from terrorism.”
The seminar was held to discuss key issues regarding road safety, the need to create awareness through schools and an educational campaign by the motorway police.
More than 80 per cent accidents occur due to violation of traffic rules, he said, this raises the question of why licences are issued to incompetent drivers. Cheema said that many drivers were not even aware of basic traffic laws like following traffic signals and putting on seat belts. The situation is bad enough to declare it a national emergency and deal with it accordingly, he said.
Some of the most common causes of road accidents include road rage, speeding, racing other cars and driving under the influence, he said. “The awareness seminars conducted by the Highway and Motorway Police have helped saved many lives,” he said. “Our personnel have strong principles... there is a reason why we are generally considered a corruption-free institution.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2013.