KARACHI: As many as 480 people were killed in traffic accidents during the current year and nearly half of the fatalities took place in the Keamari area, police have said.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Karachi police chief Javed Alam Odho said that 50pc accidents were caused by dumpers, water tankers, minibuses, trailers and other heavy vehicles.

“We have to control the plying of heavy vehicles,” he said, adding that an alarming rise in fatal accidents had been witnessed during the last two and a half months, mainly because of acceleration in construction activities and plying of heavy vehicles in daytime.

“Growing traffic accidents have prompted us to hold a press conference and it has been decided in a meeting that ‘more than routine steps’ are needed for controlling fatal accidents,” vowed the city police chief.

Karachi police chief says 480 people killed this year so far

Flanked by DIG Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema, he said that so far, 480 people were killed in this year in traffic incidents, and out of those, 50pc took place in Keamari, West and Malir districts due to plying of heavy vehicles to Karachi Port Trust and Port Qasim.

He said 7,000 drivers were arrested and 350 vehicles involved in such fatal accidents were impounded. The metropolis’ top cop said: “We have decided that arrested drivers should not be released even in bailable offences as they have to get such bail from court.”

He said concerted action had been taken against heavy vehicles.

“Dumpers would not be allowed to ply in daytime,” he said, adding that the heavy vehicles would be allowed to ply after 11pm only.

However, he said heavy vehicles deployed for collection of solid waste and under-construction Malir Expressway would not be halted.

The traffic police data said that port areas (East and West Wharf, industrial area, Hub River Road, Northern Bypass, Wazir Mansion railway and Mauripur Road were the most affected areas in district West.

In Central district, Metro flyover, Ayesha Complex (near Green Line BRTS), Sharea Usman, Liaquatabad Underpass/No.10 were the hotspots for fatal accidents.

In Malir district, Superhighway, National Highway, Port Qasim, Steel Town and Murtaza Chowk were the most affected spots.

The traffic police said Godown Chowrangi, Bilal Chowrangi/Vita Chowrangi and 8000 Road were the hotspots for tragic accidents in district Korangi.

10-day drive for bike-riders

Highlighting that 57pc victims were motorcyclists, Mr Odho said they were launching a 10-day drive for bike-riders to increase the tendency of wearing helmets and installing back mirrors to prevent fatal accidents. “A massive campaign would be launched in collaboration with NGOs,” he said.

He said only fines would not control the accidents. “We have to do something to control 57pc accidents.”

The data shared by traffic police on this occasion showed that motorcycles comprised 64pc of traffic (total 6.5 million) in Karachi (4,131,012).

The data showed that 57pc motorcyclists were victims of road accidents as 75pc riders were without helmets while 50pc were without driving licence.

It said 95pc motorcycles were without a back view mirror and 80pc bikes without backlight.

Traffic police analysis about the causes of accidents showed that motorcyclists mostly slipped during lane change or bad road conditions.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024