Surviving fog: Traffic police distribute coloured paper among motorists

LAHORE:

City Traffic Police launched a campaign on Monday to distribute coloured paper to people for covering headlights of vehicles to improve visibility during fog.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Tayyab Hafeez Cheema launched the campaign at The Mall.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Cheema said, “We launched this campaign keeping in mind that fog lights are costly. We came up with this alternative to fog lights which is quite effective.”

In the first phase, the traffic wardens placed 2,000 tinted papers on cars at the Charing Cross and Regal Chowk.

“In foggy conditions, drivers should maintain a reasonable distance from other vehicles. The four indicator-lights should be turned on,” the chief traffic officer said.

“Drivers need to keep an eye on the road, and use their ears more carefully to judge traffic which may not be visible otherwise,” he said.

Cheema recommended turning off loud music and avoiding distractions like eating, drinking and smoking.

“Such precautions can help avoid road traffic accidents,” he said.

Another tip the CTO provided to the drivers was to keep the windows open.

 “In the absence of proper ventilation in vehicles, moisture gathers on windscreens and impairs vision,” he said.

He said that drivers must not stick their heads out from the window for a better view as this could result in fatal accidents.

“Avoid overtaking other cars when there is fog because it becomes difficult to judge the distance,” Cheema said.

Saddar Traffic Superintendent Nida Umar said that they were also asking drivers of heavy vehicles to install fog lights and reflectors on the back of the trucks.

Talking to The Express Tribune, City Superintendent Rana Shujat said that drivers should not brake hard in fog.

“Instead, they should gradually reduce speed and keep sufficient distance between vehicles,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2014.