LAHORE: The Punjab traffic police have launched a crackdown on the motorcyclists travelling without wearing helmets. The massive exercise was launched in Punjab following a decision of a high-level meeting held at the Central Police Office (CPO) some days back. The provincial police chief in the meeting had ordered the Punjab traffic police high-ups to ensure that every motorcyclist wear helmet while travelling on roads across the province. Following the directions, the Lahore City Traffic Police on Tuesday imposed a complete ban on the entry of motorcyclists on three major roads of the city without wearing helmets.‘Helmet-less ride’ banned on three city roads The roads included The Mall, Jail Road and the Lahore Canal and the traffic wardens didn’t allow the motorcyclists to use them without wearing helmets.
Lahore Chief Traffic Officer Mustansar Feroze said the scope of action has also been extended to other major roads of the provincial capital where the motorcyclists without helmets would not be allowed entry. He said the crackdown was launched following reports of head and neck injuries to a large number of motorcyclists in road accidents when they travelled without wearing helmets. The CTO said the traffic police have set up 190 pickets at various roads of the city by deputing traffic wardens to impose fines on the motorcyclists travelling without helmets. He said the traffic police had imposed fine on more than 800,000 motorcyclists during the last six months for not wearing helmets.The data obtained from the Rescue 1122, emergency wards of the public and private hospitals showed that a large number of motorcyclists suffered life-long disabilities besides injuries when they travelled without helmets.
Last year, 67,292 road accidents out of total 92,784 had involved the motorbikes in the provincial capital that accounted for nearly 74 per cent. According to the available data, the CTO said 472 of the total injured persons got spinal injuries, 6,103 head wounds, 8,743 single fracture, 1,456 multiple fractures and 80,097 citizens got minor injuries in accidents.On Tuesday, Mr Mustansar said, the traffic wardens ensured 95pc implementation of rules on The Mall. He said the exercise would help ease burden on the hospitals, besides securing lives of motorcyclists.
(Daily Dawn)
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