RAWALPINDI: The provincial government on Friday directed the district administration and the city traffic police to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) to avoid traffic accidents on the Rawalpindi-Murree Road.

Two buses coming to Rawalpindi from Murree plunged into a deep ravine at Salgran, killing 12 passengers on Wednesday.

Since January 2013, more than 130 causalities (deaths and injuries) have been reported in 11 traffic accidents at the same spot.

It has been decided to establish joint checkposts to ensure the fitness of vehicles and driving licences on the road.

The checkposts staff will ensure that no heavy traffic is allowed on the road.

The joint checkposts to be manned by traffic police, district police, Islamabad capital territory police and the National Highways and Motorway Police will be established at 17 Mile and expressway toll plazas.

The traffic wardens will also be patrolling the busy highway.

Speed checking cameras will be installed in the area and strict action will be taken against drivers violating traffic rules.

City Traffic Officer Syed Ishtiaq Hussain Shah has been directed to coordinate with the secretary Regional Transport Authority to launch an immediate campaign to re-verify the fitness certificates of all public transport vehicles plying on different routes of Murree.

The CTO has also been directed to coordinate with the relevant departments of Abbottabad and muzaffarabad.

It has also been decided to install “cat eyes” between Salgran and Tret in view of the fatal and non-fatal accidents occurring in the area during the last one year.

The government has also directed to provide two heavy duty cranes and searchlights to Rescue 1122 to handle accidents.