RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab government is going to adopt the Swedish model for reduction in traffic accidents apart from making ‘road safety’ part of syllabus. ‘Rescue Mohafiz Program’ has also been launched in Punjab through establishing community emergency response teams’ at all union councils in Punjab for disaster risk reduction through community participation.

Director General Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer said here Saturday that road safety system was of vital importance for protection of human lives and establishment of the Punjab Road Safety Authority would result in an effective system of road safety including driving licensing system, traffic engineering, vehicles fitness system, vehicle registration, database and management system. “Only trained drivers can ensure life safety in Punjab,” he added.

Giving details of road traffic crashes in 2016 in Punjab, he said that the Service has rescued around 283,085 people from disability with professional rescue response and safe transportation to hospitals, whereas 227,390 accidents calls were reported in 2015 with increase of 11,392 accidents in one year. Similarly, 112,616 drivers, 7296 underage drivers, 39,361 pedestrians and 131,108 passengers were among the victims of these road traffic crashes.

The statistics show that 46,060 RTAs were reported in Lahore Control Room in 2016, which affected 47,234 persons placing the Provincial Capital at top of the list followed by 23,400 in Faisalabad with 27,977 victims and Multan at third position with 13,906 RTCs and 16,438 victims.

The details further show that as many as 283,085 people were affected by road traffic crashes including 224,407 males and 58,678 females.

According to the data, 194,966 motorbikes, 35,461 auto rickshaws, 25,693 motorcars, 12,961 vans, 3123 passenger buses, 7875 trucks and 25,844 other types of auto vehicles and slow moving carts were involved in aforesaid road traffic accidents.