KARACHI, Nov 14: The transport and communications department of the city government has proposed registration of driving schools and drivers of all commercial vehicles with the department to bring the working of transporters in accordance to legal norms and improving the standard of traffic flow in Karachi.

In an attempt to streamline the traffic flow and to reduce the number of accidents in Karachi, the department had finalised plans to register all drivers of buses, mini-buses, rickshaw and taxis which would minimise chances of drugs-users being inducted as drivers.

According to official data, at least 600 people die in traffic accidents annually as rashly driven buses, mini-buses and coaches cause a majority of accidents.

A total of 1,089 traffic incidents were reported last year out of which 560 proved fatal. The data showed that a traffic accident occurred after every 14 hours, claiming the life of a person.

At least one passer-by fell victim to the reckless driving and lost his life after every 25 hours. It is also revealed that a mini-bus causes accident after every 28 hours in Karachi.

The figures have been collected by the Traffic Engineering Bureau which has now become a part of the T&C department now, along with the RTA.

According to an official of the department, if these proposal are implemented, drivers and conductors of all public transport vehicles will have to wear a uniform and display a badge showing his registration number.

The department can trace all the record of that driver with the help of registration number from its IT department.

This rule will apply on taxi and rickshaw drivers also, whereas loading vehicles will not be included in this category.

Any driver who would not be in uniform or would be without badge can easily be identified and no one would be able to operate such a vehicles without completing the required formalities, including obtaining a driving licence and motor vehicle fitness certificate. The registration number would be allotted after the completion of all these formalities.

The transport department has started working on war footing to the reduce increasing number of fatal traffic accidents in the city .

Since data of drivers will be stored by the IT department, anyone trying to lodge a complaint against a driver can easily identify him from his picture on the monitor at the department and even know about his details.

Apart from this, the most often received complaint regarding drivers being drug addicts or doing the job without a driving licence can also be checked.

However, this proposal is being bitterly opposed by all transport associations, who maintain that it would put the lives of drivers and conductors at risk as people would target them on occasions where they are not even at fault.

According to sources, the T&C department, has also pressured the transporters to keep an updated record of all drivers and conductors employed by them.

According to the figures obtained from the Excise and Taxation department, some 1.63 million vehicles were registered in Karachi by March 2001 while the ratio of cars, jeeps, hi-roofs, etc., stands the highest, with 45.3 per cent of total vehicles plying on city roads.

The ratio of motorcycles in the city is 37 per cent, rickshaws 2.8 per cent, taxis including yellow cabs 3.8 per cent, buses, mini-buses and coaches 2.6 per cent while trucks ratio is 1.7 per cent.

It asserted that volume of traffic in Karachi is increasing 10 per cent per annum which is less than 1 per cent compared to three previous years figure.—PPI