RAWALPINDI: As many as 44,968 challans were issued to people on violations of traffic regulations throughout January as traffic police of the city attemptsto enforce traffic laws. Apart from this, fines amounting to Rs1,72,78750 were collected from people.

“We can make our journey safer by ensuring discipline while driving on roads,” said the acting Chief Traffic Officer Waseem Riaz.

Traffic police have been making efforts to improve the deteriorating traffic system in Rawalpindi district in order to prevent accidents, the spokesman said.

The fines were imposed on drivers of 15,201 public service vehicles, 12,117 private vehicles and 17,650 motorcycles while 2,191 vehicles and motorcycles were impounded in different police stations of Rawalpindi district due to incomplete paperwork.

Mr Riaz said challans are issued only so that citizens remain vigilant on the road and refrain from breaking traffic rules so that the road environment in the city can remain safe.

The focus of traffic police is on road safety and traffic education, he said, adding it is only through a road safety awareness campaign that change of attitudes is possible for which the education wing is providing awareness to citizens on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, following Wednesday’s light snowfall in Murree, the CTO instructed the deputy superintendent of police (traffic) to remain in the field in order to maintain smooth flow of traffic in the hill station.

Traffic police officials were deployed with heavy gear to clean roads as 1,734 cars entered Murree.

The CTO asked tourists to keep extra warm clothes with them and ensure that their vehicle was mechanically fit while visiting Murree and keep the speed of their vehicles low.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022