KARACHI, July 23 The traffic police authorities appear to be powerless to prevent violations committed by drivers of heavy vehicles, and the relevant laws also appear to be weak, prescribing a mere Rs100 fine for violations, with no option for the police to seize vehicles.
Four members of a family were killed on Thursday when a truck carrying a container crushed their car, highlighting the police's inability to control traffic rule violations committed by drivers of such vehicles.
Though initial examination of the vehicle after the accident showed that the vehicle was indeed plying a route that was designated for heavy traffic, and that there were no gross violations of safety regulations, it is worth noting that the city's traffic police force does not currently have the powers to check this menace under normal circumstances.
“We can charge any truck with a container for any violation under code 49 of the traffic police rules, which allows a maximum penalty of Rs100,” Khurram Gulzar, DIG Traffic, told Dawn. “Under such powers, the traffic police can only stop moving heavy vehicles, either due to violation of timings, safety measures or their height. We can only charge them Rs100 and then have to let them go.”
He said the traffic police had so far issued 1,800 tickets (challans) of such violations by heavy vehicles in the first seven months of the current year, adding that the small penalty did not bother the transporters and traders who own and operate such vehicles.
Aside from the limited powers given to the traffic police, some also blame other institutions for not ensuring that safety standards are met by these vehicles.
“Actually, such trucks start their journeys from the port, where all safety rules are ignored,” said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The traffic police authorities, in recent correspondence with the port's high-ups, pointed out such negligence, but the matter has yet to be addressed.”
However, officials at the Karachi Port Trust disagree with this assertion. Explaining their position, they put the blame on the heavy vehicle operators and traders, the original consignees of the containers.
“The KPT has a dedicated Port Safety Department, which is mandated with the same task,” said a spokesman for the KPT. “A trailer can never enter the port until it is checked by the department and issued with a clearance. Similarly, it is not allowed to leave the port's jurisdiction until it meets all safety standards. In regular examinations, we check the twist locks and even the fitness of the vehicle regarding its ability to carry the load it is setting out with.”
In regular practice, he said, KPT officials observed that containers left the port with all due formalities but from there they moved to the yards owned by the transporters or the traders who were the consignees of the shipments. He claimed that from these yards, most of the time vehicles were changed and due regulations were not followed.
And as claims and allegations are traded by the police and the KPT, the government appears least interested in passing legislation to give more power to the traffic police, the only force on the ground that can deal with the problem effectively.
Wajid Ali Durrani, currently Additional IG and formerly the city's DIG Traffic, recalled that every effort to empower the police regarding heavy vehicle violations was “always foiled by the influential transporters and traders”.
“About a year ago, we managed to promulgate an ordinance from Sindh's governor, which enhanced the traffic police powers, mainly to check the violations made by heavy vehicles,” he said. “When it was due to be implemented, the transporters threatened to go on strike and the plan could not be materialised. You can't make people follow the rules unless they fear a heavy penalty or punishment. The Rs100 fine would never work.”
