LAHORE, April 17: The use of mobile phone while driving and travelling without fastening safety belts by all the occupants of a vehicle are likely to be declared offences in Punjab while certain officials call the move unrealistic, Dawn has learnt.

Officials weighing pros and cons of multiplying fines on traffic rules’ violation have called the idea “unjustified” and likely source of “corruption” in traffic police department.

The proposed rate of fine is stated to be Rs500 and Rs1,000, much higher than the existing rate.

The provincial government is taking the measures to introduce a modern traffic management system in five big cities — Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala — in the province in the near future.

Under the proposed traffic police system, graduate traffic wardens of the rank of sub-inspectors will be appointed directly. Certain quarters in the provincial government are also objecting to the move.

Official sources said on Tuesday the proposed offences and heavy fines would not improve the traffic system because the measures looked highly idealised.

They said drivers could use hand-free cell phone devices without getting distracted and such cell phones were available in the local market, so banning mobile phone while driving looked unrealistic.

About mandatory seat belts by all occupants of a vehicle while travelling in the limits of cities, they said the proposal too looked unrealistic. They said a majority of vehicles being used in Pakistan did not have such facility. Normally, safety belts were for drivers and at the most for front seat passenger, they said.

Further, sources said, one car could have four belts at the most, and they too would be useless if there were more than four people in a car. They said certain people would not be able to fasten safety belts because of their physical problems.

About proposed fines from Rs500 and Rs1,000, officials said the move would prove a burden on the people, forcing them to grease the palms of traffic staff to rid of the high fine.