'Road accident ratio reduced by 39.58 percent in Islamabad'

Road accidents have significantly decreased in Islamabad during 2007 owing to sensible policies of traffic police and rising awareness among people about traffic laws.
The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, Muhammad Zubair Hashmi said a remarkable cut of 39.58 per cent is evident in the ratio of fatal road accidents in the federal capital during 2007 that has reduced the number to 58 from 96 happened in 2006.
"63 people were killed in 58 fatal road accidents in 2007, the ratio is remarkable as compared to 117 casualties in 96 fatal road accidents during the year 2006," he added. The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) was inaugurated on January 28, 2006 and it came up with some dynamic initiatives that decreased the accident rate since its inception, the SSP told APP.
He said, up to 70 non-fatal road accidents occurred during 2007 causing injuries to 137 persons as compared to 177 accidents in 2006 the left 246 persons injured.
He said seven accidents occurred in January, five in February, 14 in March, five in April, four in May, seven in June, six in July, four in August, two in September, one in October, one in November and two in December.
The SSP said nothing can bring back a human life and ITP is making extra ordinary efforts to avoid such mishaps on the roads, which bring miseries to the family members of the deceased. He also said the ITP also cancelled the licenses of nine persons involved in fatal road accidents and barred them from driving.
Hashmi, giving detail of ITP's activity said that it ITP issued 457931 challans tickets amounting Rs 11, 44,29,900 during 2007 as compared to 363412 fine tickets amounting Rs 9, 93,51300 during 2006.
However, the total fine collected during 2007 against the fine tickets was Rs 8, 44,41900 which was Rs 2,99,8800 less than the actual amount of issued fine tickets.
Further, Hasmi said though, the violation of traffic rules increased in the city with increase in traffic population, the ITP would ensure strict checking and would create a safe road environment in the capital. Interestingly, 461 VIPs were also fined during the year.