With an aim to control growing phenomenon of smog and fog, the Punjab police have formed special teams that would check and seize unfit and smoke-emitting vehicles on roads and highways across the province.

This was decided at a consultative session held at the Central Police Office (CPO) with Punjab Highway Patrol (PHP) Additional IG Zafar Iqbal in the chair on Friday. All the Regional Police Officers (RPOs) also participated in the session through video-link.

The participants also deliberated in detail on the factors contributing to the road accidents besides reviewing the steps taken in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, AIG Zafar said that the special teams will have the officials of Punjab Traffic Police, PHP and district police. "These teams have been formed to check over-speeding and "fitness" of vehicles on all roads including highways," he said and directed to ensure compliance of traffic rules "at any cost" by all vehicles, especially public transporters.

He asserted that the fitness standard of buses, wagons and other vehicles running on public routes should be checked properly. "No vehicle should be allowed to run on the roads without having fitness in accordance with devised SOPs," he instructed.

The AIG added that the PHP and the traffic police personnel should effectively ensure their patrolling on highways and roads in the weather of fog and smog while an awareness campaign should be continued for passengers.

While discussing the road accidents issue, AIG Traffic Punjab Muhammad Farooq Mazhar told the consultative panel that almost 60 percent accidents occur due to over-speeding while 39 percent occur due to the negligence of drivers.

Therefore, he recommended, under age, inexperienced and careless drivers should not be allowed to drive public transport and the special teams can play their positive and vibrant role in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019