ISLAMABAD: According to the road accidents analysis in 2019 by the Traffic Police of Islamabad (ITP), it was revealed that bikers and pedestrians remained the main and top cause of accidents in Islamabad.
As per the survey, the most dangerous roads in the capital are GT Road Tarnol and Expressway, as most of the accidents occurred there. A total of 60 and 29 accidents happen on the said roads. On the Express Highway, the main cause of accidents were pedestrians while on the GT Road Tarnol, the main cause of accidents were the bikers.
Moreover, a total of 205 major accidents was reported by the traffic police of Islamabad in the year 2019.
Last year in Islamabad, out of 205 accidents, 85 were by the vehicles hitting the bikes. And in second place where the accidents caused by vehicles hitting pedestrians. A total of 70 accidents were reported by the Traffic Police in which traffic or cars had hit the people on various roads of the capital. Apart from these, 34 accidents were due to vehicle to vehicle accidents while only two bike to bike accidents were reported in the year 2019.
When the roads or locations regarding the accidents were analyzed, the top roads causing the accidents were GT Road Tarnol and Express Highway. While Murree Road of the Islamabad came in third with a total of 15 accidents in the year 2019. According to the official documents, out of 15 accidents, 7 accidents were caused by pedestrians.
Because of the bikers, both Park Road and GT Road had faced around 10 accidents in the year 2019.
In order for the traffic to run smoothly and effectively, Wing Head, Ishtiaq, of the Islamabad Traffic Police Education has stated that there is a dire need for good engineering regarding the roads of Islamabad. He further clarified that the structure and making of roads and highways are directly related to the flow of the traffic.
Capital Development Authority is responsible for the engineering and structuring of the roads; hence the officials stressed that concerned authorities should improve the conditions of the roads so that the Islamabad Traffic Police would be able to cope and decrease the road accidents happening within the capital.
There was not even a single bridge for pedestrians on Kashmir Highway despite knowing that there has always been a huge crowd of customers and the Biggest Friday Market there, the officials further stressed.
On Islamabad Express Highway, even though there are bridges for pedestrians but they are in the quite poor structure and quality, said Computing Wing Head, Mohammad Rasheed. In order to correspond to the conditions of the bridges, the officials shared the actual pictures of the bridges present on Highways as well. Holes, bumps, cracks were clearly seen in pictures.
But, the Computing Head Wing, Mr. Rasheed, also stressed upon a certain factor, i.e. educating the public is also needed apart from creating a well-engineered road so that the traffic runs calmly and smoothly, and that accidents be avoided. It was also noted during the survey that there is a dire need that the general public should get proper knowledge regarding the road and traffic rules.
Mr. Rasheed mentioned that in order to get the proper knowledge of traffic rules and driving, ITP had also arranged an hour-long test for the public.
Finally at least once it has been said that focus needs to be on road geometry and maintenance of road furniture such as pedestrian bridges etc.
Most traffic problems are due to those factors which do not and cannot fall under the mandate of traffic police whereas they fall under the jurisdiction of road maintenance authority such as NHA, FWO, municipal authority etc. however when accidents happen people direct their wrath on traffic police (not to say there are few black sheep and other lacknesses in traffic police also).