In a concerted effort to enhance road safety and enforce traffic regulations, Karachi’s traffic police have intensified actions against the use of illegal pressure horns and fancy number plates. Traffic Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Pir Muhammad Shah reiterated that these accessories are unlawful, and a crackdown is underway targeting both users and vendors of such items.

Key Enforcement Actions:

  • Seizure and Destruction: Authorities have confiscated over 27,000 illegal number plates, hooters, and pressure horns, all slated for destruction as part of the ongoing crackdown.
  • Vendor Crackdown: Shopkeepers selling unauthorized accessories are facing stringent actions to curb the availability of these illegal items.

Initiatives to Improve Road Safety:

  • Accident Analysis Team: A 10-member Karachi Accident Analysis Team has been established to investigate the causes of accidents and compile data, aiming to identify trends and develop preventive measures.
  • Traffic Safety Application: Development of a mobile application is underway to assist in traffic safety analysis, facilitating data-driven decision-making.

Alarming Statistics:

  • Motorcyclist Fatalities: Motorcyclists represent the highest number of casualties in Karachi’s road accidents, underscoring the need for targeted safety interventions.
  • Traffic Accidents: In the current year, Karachi has witnessed 182 traffic-related deaths, with 57 involving heavy vehicles, and 2,211 injuries, highlighting the critical need for improved traffic management.

Collaborative Efforts:

  • Institutional Collaboration: Additional IG Karachi, Javed Alam Odho, emphasized that managing traffic issues requires coordinated efforts among various institutions, particularly considering ongoing development projects contributing to congestion.
  • Advisory Panel: An Advisory Panel has been established to ensure sustainable traffic management solutions, focusing on comprehensive strategies to address the city’s traffic challenges.

Public Transport and Vehicle Statistics:

  • Motorcycle Prevalence: Karachi currently has approximately 4.2 million motorcycles in use. Enhancing public transport options is viewed as a potential measure to reduce this number and alleviate traffic congestion.

These enforcement actions and initiatives reflect Karachi’s commitment to improving road safety and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations, aiming to reduce accidents and enhance the overall traffic environment in the city.