ISLAMABAD: A total of 972 accidents occurred on Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway (M-1) and Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M- 2) during the six year period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 out of which 319 were fatal accidents and 631 were non-fatal.

An official of National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) told APP that a total of 282 accidents occurred on M-1 out of which 77 were fatal while 204 were non-fatal accidents.

On M-2 690 accidents took place on M-2 out of which 242 were fatal while 427 were non-fatal.

To a question, he said that motorway police has taken several measures to control fatal accidents on the motorway. Motorway police has been ensuring strict enforcement against major causes of accidents i.e. lane violation, over-speeding,and sleeping at wheel.

He said that briefing and awareness campaigns have been launched regularly to raise awareness about the major causes of accidents.

NH&MP officials say public transport with heavy commercial loads banned from motorways

Moreover, he said black spots have been determined and special measures have been adopted by installing warning signs, speed limit signs, lane discipline signs and other similar road furniture.

Patrolling vehicles have been asked to spend sufficient time at the black spots to make the drivers/commuters alert especially at that specific point. He said that surprise and random interception of vehicles is made during night time to ensure the vigil level of the drivers.

He said that it is being ensured by NH&MP that no driver drives a vehicles on motorway without valid driving licence. To a question, he said deployment of two drivers has been made compulsory for all public transport vehicles having route of more than 5 hours.

He said entry of public transport vehicles with commercial loads on their rooftops has been banned on motorway as overweight vehicles pose a great hazard not only to other vehicles plying on motorway but also cause irreparable loss to the national infrastructure.

He said weigh stations are being operated at almost all the major entry points of motorway where vehicles are properly weighed before their entry on motorway.

Overweight vehicles are returned from the interchanges and not allowed to enter motorway. Likewise, overweight or heavily loaded vehicles are also made to exit from the next interchange if found plying on motorway.

The official said that NH&MP has formed Mobile Education Units on motorway which regularly visit the Bus/Truck/Taxi stands, Education Institutes to create awareness of Road Safety amongst the masses.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2015

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