KARACHI: Rs43m fine imposed for violating traffic rules
By Arman Sabir
KARACHI, June 8: The traffic police imposed a fine of Rs43.68 million during the past five months and realized Rs38.4 million. According to police statistics, a total number of 447,041 drivers were fined for violating different traffic rules in the metropolis in the past five months. The police valuation of fine is equal to Rs43,681,850 while the amount deposited in bank branches is Rs38,470,700.
The main target of traffic police were the motorcyclists without helmets as 78,000 were fined for not wearing helmets during a campaign launched against such practice. The campaign was intensified during the month of May when 32,658 motorcyclists were fined for not wearing helmets.
The DIG Traffic had written a letter to all the associations of trade and industry in the city to encourage their employees to wear helmets. In the letter, he stated that a survey was conducted and a road accident data was collected from Abbasi Shaheed, Civil, and Jinnah hospitals, which showed that 75 per cent deaths in road accidents occurred due to head injuries. The risk of head injuries could be reduced if helmets were used by motorcyclists, he added.
However, complaints about the excesses of traffic police were received from motorists and motorcyclists. Many of them complained about harassment and imposing heavy fines without justification.
The traffic police also fined 15,130 drivers of different vehicles for violating traffic signals, both manual and electronic in the past five months. Despite the fact that the traffic police came hard on drivers for violating traffic signals, the situation seems unchanged and the people generally did not honour the traffic signals. People complained that the traffic police officials at various intersections hide themselves and intercept motorcyclist or an old model car to bargain over illegal gratification.
The traffic police officials appear efficient to force the drivers to honour traffic signals when a VIP uses that route. The efficiency disappears as soon as the VIP personality goes away. One of the major factors of traffic jams is attributed to massive violations of traffic signals while the traffic police appear least interested in enforcing the law.
During the past five months, the traffic police fined 21,065 drivers for reckless and negligent driving besides overtaking where prohibited. It has been noticed that mostly drivers of public transport do not drive responsibly and the data of the traffic police showed that more than 21,000 drivers of buses, minibuses and coaches were challaned. However, the impact of fines on drivers has not created fear among drivers against breaking the law, which shows that some major steps are needed for improvement.
The traffic police fined 22,333 drivers for parking violations and road obstructions though in most of the areas parking signs are not visible. Only, traffic police know which one is the parking area and which is not. The traffic police officials, however, claimed that it was the responsibility of the city administration to install sign boards about traffic rules.
Traffic police also fined 38,663 drivers for using improper lanes on different roads though lanes have disappeared on some roads and thoroughfares. People complained that traffic police used to demand license, papers of vehicles, and other related documents. They mentioned that when traffic police could not find any valid reason to impose fine after inspecting headlights, indicators, and other things, they used to give a ticket for violating lanes.
Around 3,705 vehicles were fined for having tinted glasses; 1,428 for emitting excessive smoke; 2,679 for exceeding prescribed speed limit; 10,098 for violating one-way; 6,920 drivers for driving without licence; 9,124 for driving without proper lights; 1,725 for driving without indicators; 2,466 for using vehicle in unsafe condition; 2,957 for using defective, fancy or irregular number plates; and 799 for using mobile phones while driving.
The traffic police officials claimed that the major reason for traffic jams was the ongoing repair works at a number of roads. They said that a track of the dual carriageway of Stadium Road, Jahangir Road, Rashid Minhas Road, was closed for repair. A major development work was being carried out in Clifton and the traffic was being diverted to alternative routes, which sometimes led to traffic jams, they added.
KARACHI, June 8: The traffic police imposed a fine of Rs43.68 million during the past five months and realized Rs38.4 million. According to police statistics, a total number of 447,041 drivers were fined for violating different traffic rules in the metropolis in the past five months. The police valuation of fine is equal to Rs43,681,850 while the amount deposited in bank branches is Rs38,470,700.
