Last year, the federal authorities introduced a new set of initiatives to improve road safety in Islamabad. One of those measures involved the inauguration of Good Citizen Patrol Unit. In December 2018, then-Minister of State for Interior Sheharyar Afridi made headlines for launching the campaign that rewarded residents for following traffic rules while driving in Islamabad.
Now, almost a year after the authorities took steps to prevent major accidents in Islamabad, reports show a steady decline in the rate of traffic accidents, indicating the city is becoming a safe haven for motorists.
As per a report published by a local English daily, the Islamabad Traffic Police has pointed out a 29 per cent decline in road accidents in the federal capital.
So, how did traffic police in Islamabad manage to achieve such results?
Here’s how Driving in Islamabad is Becoming Safer for Motorists
These are some of the road safety measures implemented by the traffic police in Islamabad to prevent road traffic accidents.
- Identifying black spots
- Rewarding citizens for following traffic rules
- Traffic awareness campaigns
Let’s take a further look at these initiatives.
Identifying Black Spots
One of the main strategies for the prevention of road traffic accidents in Islamabad was to identify the black spots. When it comes to road safety, black spots are the places where chances of traffic accidents occurring are higher due to any number of reasons. This may include sharp turns, poor infrastructure, concealed junctions or lack of warning signs among other reasons. Overall, the traffic police in Islamabad identified 13 such spots across the city.
The identification of these spots and subsequent installation of speed checking cameras by Islamabad Traffic Police played an important part in reducing the number of such accidents.
Rewarding Citizens for Following Rules
The Good Citizen Patrol Unit was launched to reward motorists in Islamabad who followed traffic rules, such as using indicators when needed and staying in respective lanes. This initiative was meant to encourage law-abiding citizens while showing appreciation for observing proper road safety rules and regulations.
The gifts, which were handed by the patrolling unit, included a ‘Good Citizen’ sticker and coffee mugs among others. According to the report, an official from Islamabad Traffic Police’s Education Wing said the campaign was created to promote a positive image of the traffic police officers and clear misconceptions that they only dole out punishments and issue fines.
Given the positive outcome, one can say the campaign was actually successful.
Traffic Awareness Campaigns
Needless to say, one of the best ways to educate the masses about something is through traffic awareness campaigns. The Education Wing of Islamabad Traffic Police has been conducting regular sensitization drives to inform motorists about road safety rules in the capital city. The campaign aims to ensure a disciplinary road safety system in the city by informing people about important road signs, how to obey the signal and general traffic rules.
According to an official from the traffic police, loudspeakers have been installed on vehicles to announce traffic rules and regulations to educate motorists in Islamabad.
Moreover, Capital Highway Inspection Patrolling Squads (CHIPS), Quick Response Unit and Education teams are also actively participating in these awareness drives. The recent drop in the number of traffic accidents in Islamabad points to the fact that these campaigns have worked to an extent.
On a side note, if you want to learn how to drive safely or want to get better at it, there are quite a few great driving schools in Islamabad that are famous for their stellar training program. In addition to that, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is launching a route planner app in Islamabad as a part of its Intelligent Transportation System.
It is also important to mention that the federal capital has an impressive public transport system. You can find out more about it in our detailed guide on Metro buses in Islamabad.
For more information about traffic rules and tips for safe driving in Islamabad, stay tuned to Zameen Blog, the leading lifestyle and real estate blog in Pakistan. If you have any suggestions or queries, feel free to send us an email at blog@zameen.com.
