Most of the dwellers across the Islamabad Expressway are reluctant to use overhead bridges, especially erected to avoid any road mishap, causing inconvenience for motorists using the 8-9 km roadway. The pedestrians try to jump the road at once, which sometimes makes difficult for the motorists to see them and avert an accident.
According to the police sources, around 15 fatal and non-fatal road accidents have so far occurred on the expressway during the last month, due to the negligence of the pedestrians. Commenting on the subject, Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Dr Moeen Masood said that the Islamabad Traffic Police is doing its best to educate the road users, and different sign boards have been installed to guide the road users.
"I admit that most of the pedestrians preferring short-cut, avoid using these overhead bridges and face road accidents," he said. The SSP further informed that a letter has been written to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for the installation of iron grills at the main stops, where the pedestrians try to cross the road.
A traffic policeman has also been deputed at each bus stop on the expressway to guide the pedestrians to use the overhead bridge instead of crossing the road in a risky way, he added. He affirmed that his efforts would continue in this regard. The government has spent million of rupees to facilitate people living across the expressway for their safety, but most of the pedestrians are not using this facility, and are putting themselves in danger, expressed Muhammad Afzal, a car owner.
Muhammad Shafi, a driver of route 21, also observed that people do not use the bridge for crossing the road and thus disturb traffic on the road. Irshad Hussain, working in government office, passed a good sign when he said, "I always used overhead bridges as these have been installed to facilitate me and my fellow."