Dangerous roads: Cameras to be installed to check accidents

Installation in DG Khan, Rajanpur districts within a month.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The district administration has decided to install speed-cameras with night vision capability in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts to reduce traffic accidents.

The decision was taken at a meeting, chaired by Dera Ghazi Khan Division Commissioner Muhammad Saqib, on Saturday.

The meeting was informed that the cameras would be installed within a month.

Saqib said that passenger buses had been involved in several deadly accidents recently. “Passenger buses, especially those travelling at night, do not adhere to speed limits. Resultantly, whenever there is an accident, the loss of life is great. The district administrations should set-up check posts at major roads. The arrival and departure time of all passenger buses should be checked at terminals to monitor their speed,” he said.

Saqib said that a joint squad, comprising traffic, patrolling and district police personnel, should be formed to check speeding by buses. “A public transport driver violating the rules should be fined heavily and his vehicle impounded. We cannot remain idle while precious human lives are lost,” he said.

He asked the traffic police to submit details about action taken against such vehicles so far.

RPO Rehmatullah Niazi said that motorcycle rickshaws and encroachments on major roads were responsible for most traffic accidents in cities.

The meeting was informed that Rescue 1122 provided first-aid to 1,362 people involved 1,156 traffic accidents from January till March 2015.

The traffic police said that it had cancelled 12 driving licences and cancelled five route permits in the past two months. “Twenty-five drivers were arrested and 3,260 motorcycles were impounded,” police said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19^th, 2015.