|
Over 300 killed, 1,300 injured on roads in Karachi
By Imran Ayub
Lack of pedestrian bridges at sensitive crossings and serious violations of traffic rules, mostly by commercial transport, have been cited as the main reasons for the increase in accidents. - File photo
KARACHI: More than 300 people lost their lives in road accidents in the city during the first three months of the year, which is 15 per cent higher than last year’s corresponding period.
The road traffic injury research and prevention centre working at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in its quarterly report cited public unawareness, lack of pedestrian bridges at sensitive crossings and serious violations of traffic rules mostly by commercial transport for the accidents.
Based on the facts and figures of accidents reported at the city’s trauma centres between Jan 1 and March 31 this year, the report stated that 304 people died in the accidents and 1,377 people received serious injuries, becoming almost paralysed for life.
Injury status of the casualties was assessed on the international injury scaling system of the Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS) and the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and graded accordingly by the research assistants.
‘Of the total 304 fatalities, 48 per cent were pedestrians, 30 per cent motorcycle riders, 16 per cent passengers and four per cent drivers.’
This year, the number of deaths of pedestrians rose by 40 per cent and passengers by 33 per cent while the fatal accidents of drivers and motorcycle riders rose by three and 10 per cent respectively.
Since the demographics, time, location, vehicles involved and immediate causes of accidents were collated along with 15 other specifications while compiling the report, the researchers clearly mentioned a few of the most vulnerable roads in the city for accidents involving pedestrians. Unavailability of the required infrastructure was a major cause of accidents in these areas, they pointed out.
Mauripur Road: a death trap
The report states, ‘The most vulnerable is Mauripur Road, which urgently needs provision of pedestrian facilities. Among all urban arteries of Karachi, Mauripur tops with (a ratio of) eight fatalities per kilometre. In 2008 alone, 38 people died in accidents on this road.’
The researchers suggested that the entire Mauripur Road, which is one of the city’s busiest roads, be properly fenced to discourage jaywalkers from crossing it along with installation of overhead bridges. It was found that ill-maintained footpaths and open manholes on the thoroughfare had also made this road a death trap.
When the relevant departments were approached for their versions on the installation of pedestrian bridges on the road, the city government and the National Highway Authority were found to be at odds over the area of responsibility. While the dispute over the remit has halted the infrastructure’s development, pedestrians continue to be the main victims of accidents on Mauripur Road.
Referring to last year’s data of casualties caused by road accidents, a source said that 60 per cent of the fatalities on Mauripur Road involved pedestrians. Poor maintenance and absence of street-lights was also found to be one of the major causes of road accidents, as 25 per cent of victims met accidents in the dark.
DAWN: Monday, 27 Jul, 2009
|
