Slippery roads a hazard for motorcyclists

20 people land in hospital after their bikes slip on wet roads.

LAHORE: The first winter rain continued on Thursday and was responsible for landing a number of motorcyclists in the hospital.

Rescue 1122 said that it had responded to 20 incidents in which motorcyclists had lost control of their bikes after the slipped. However, no one was seriously injured. A spokesperson for the emergency service said that the patients were taken to Services Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Mayo Hospital.

The Rescue official said that on Thursday, the over all number of road accidents was less than usual “as most people preferred to stay at home”. He, however, added that there was an increase in the number of cases where motorbikes skidded and lost control. “Most of these slip-and-fall accidents were reported on service lanes or side roads,” the official said. According to him, such incidents happen when motorcyclists apply the brake suddenly.

“Main roads are safer for people who drive motorcycles because the whole traffic moved slowly. On side roads and service lanes, motorcyclists speed up and then apply the brakes suddenly. They should be very cautious when driving in side lanes because the roads can become very slippery,” the official advised motorcyclists.

Some drivers remarked that the heavy downpour and fog reduced visibility, making it difficult to drive on slippery roads.

Aslam Shakeel, a motorcyclist who met an accident on Thursday, told The Express Tribune that he was on Lytton Road when his bike slipped. “I was trying to swerve in order to avoid a parked car that I could not spot early because of the poor visibility,” Shakeel said.

A man in a car took him to a hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

Saleem Minhas, another motorcyclist, sustained painful injures after his motorcycle slipped. “I was on my motorbike when a rash car driver overtook me from the wrong side. He splashed mud all over me. At that instance I was taking a turn from the Shadman roundabout. My bike just slipped and crashed into another bike,” Minhas told the Tribune. According to him though the other motorcyclist also fell on the road, his injuries weren’t that severe. Minhas was taken to the Services Hospital where he was treated for a bruised knee and a swollen ankle.

Umer Ali fell from his bike on Ferozepur road after his bike flipped over an open manhole.” I could not see it because of poor visibility. I wasn’t too reckless or speeding,” he maintained, adding, “I was trying to avoid a speeding bus.” He lamented that his motorcycle was wrecked.

According to officials of the Meteorological Department visibility dropped to 400 metres at noon on Thursday. They predicted that light showers will continue for the next 24 hours and warned of low visibility. The officials also advised people to make sure that they wore something warm as temperature was likely to drop to 4 degree Celsius.

The NH&MP closed the motorway for traffic due to poor visibilty on Thursday night.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2010.