ISLAMABAD: Speeding, reckless driving and road accidents have increased on Srinagar Highway after it was made signal free to minimise congestion.

A report prepared by Sadia Aslam from the Department of Sociology, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), on ‘Fundamental causes of road accidents on Srinagar Highway Islamabad’ stated that the highway had been made signal-free to minimise congestion, but it was threatening people’s lives as reckless driving and accidents had risen.

The road safety situation is declining due to impractical or weak implementation of the standard operating procedures over road safety in the country, the report said.

Besides, according to the Excise and Taxation Department, increase in road accidents is due to old vehicles plying on roads.

Says U-turns on highway are one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers

Over 50pc vehicles registered with the department are three or more than three decades old, it said. Besides, violation of traffic rules, including speeding, reckless driving, usage of mobile phone while driving along with poor road conditions are the main causes of accidents.

According to details collected from Islamabad Traffic Police, there were 56.3pc fatal and 43pc non-fatal accidents on Srinagar Highway in 2021. So far in 2022, there have been 43pc fatal and 56pc non-fatal accidents on the highway.

In 2021, speeding was the main cause of the road accidents and out of 118, 59 per cent were fatal and 40pc non-fatal, it said, adding the share of fatal accidents due to speeding in 2022 was 47.6pc and non-fatal was 52.3pc.

Among accidents due to reckless and negligence driving in 2021, 43pc were fatal and 56pc non-fatal. In 2022, 44pc fatal and 56pc non-fatal accidents took place in the category of reckless and negligence driving.

The accidents due to speeding in 2021 were severe as compared to 2022 while accidents due to reckless and negligence driving increased in 2022 compared to 2021. These violations of rules on Srinagar Highway were occurring due to lack of knowledge and awareness.

Furthermore, the most frequent collision on the highway was between vehicles and pedestrians due to the aggressive behaviour of drivers, causing deaths and injuries. According to the data, there were 71.4pc fatal and 28pc non-fatal accidents of such type taken place in 2021 compared to 57pc and 42pc during the current year.

U-turns on Srinagar Highway are one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers and have consequences in the form of road fatalities. An unexpected maneuver does not allow speeding vehicles to change and avoid accidents.

Moreover, collision between motorcycles and vehicles on the highway is also one of the major types of accidents, the report said. In 2021, the share of fatal accidents in such collision was 76.5pc and non-fatal accidents 23.4 per cent compared to 55.3pc fatal and 44.6pc non-fatal in 2022.

The study showed that a fatal injury outcome was higher in multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents. The two-wheelers shared the same lane with heavy vehicles as roads in Pakistan lack exclusive lanes for bikes. The rescue department believes that these accidents occurred due to speeding, reckless stunts, including wheeling, and underage driving.

The fine for reckless and negligence driving is Rs500 under the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965, which should be increased, especially for luxury vehicles, the report recommended.

There is a dire need for pedestrian bridges on the highway to minimise collisions between pedestrians and vehicles, it said.

The government should also install speed detection cameras to check speed limit and violation and also increase the fine.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2022