PESHAWAR – Pakistan lack of road safety and road crashes claim around25,000 people every year, says a World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
The report was quoted at a seminar, ‘Road Safety and Challenges ofPakistan’ organised by the Motorway and Highway Police at the University ofPeshawar on Tuesday.
The National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) DIG, Muhammad Alam Shinwari,blamed reluctance to follow precautionary measures for most road incidents.In Peshawar however, motorcycle accidents, involving one-wheeling inparticular, cause most of the casualties – and most of the victims wereaged between 15 and 30 years.
On a stretch of road between Peshawar and Nowshera, on an average fiveaccidents take place every month in which precious lives are lost,according to the DIG. “More people are killed in road accidents every yearthan in the war against terrorism,” he added.
SSP Waheedur Rehman listed wrong crossing, lack of precautionary measures,lack of service roads on highways, un-fit vehicles, animals on highways,riding motorcycles without helmets, and one wheeling as the major causes ofroad accidents.
Read Top Stories
Dr Akhtar Ali Shah, in his presentation, said that three-wheelers andtwo-wheelers did not follow traffic principles and safety protocols in thecountry which was why most accidents involved these vehicles.
In neighbouring India, showbiz celebrities and sports stars are engaged tocreate awareness about road safety which is making a difference, he added.NHMP should also take such initiatives to curb road accidents.
“Around 70% accidents can be avoided if precautionary measures are followedby motorcyclists in the country,” he claimed.
