By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday said strict implementation of traffic rules and public awareness about road safety was vital in preventing accidents, thus reducing fatalities.
The president urged the lawmakers to include comprehensive road safety programs in national planning. He stressed the importance of educating the public about better enforcement while highlighting the role of lawmakers in enacting appropriate road safety legislation.
Speaking at the “Road safety conference for MPs,” the president noted that with more people using the roads, it was more crucial than ever to take precautions to protect lives.
The conference was hosted by the International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC).
The conference, hosted by the International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC) in association with the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services and Mutehtakm Parlimaan, a project sponsored by the European Union, attracted parliamentarians from all over the world.
Traffic accidents, which typically result in cranial injuries, are one of the leading causes of death, according to President Alvi, and they can be traumatic for the whole family.
He said implementing traffic rules through safe road infrastructure, surveillance cameras, proper inspection of vehicles, and easy-to-understand traffic illustrations could help reduce road accidents.
The president also emphasized self-discipline by motorists, especially wearing helmets and seatbelts. He asked the road users to remain physically and mentally alert to avoid traffic accidents.
Sadiq Sanjrani, the Chairman of the Senate and the President International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC), added that around 50 million get injured, and 1.3 million people die yearly in traffic accidents.
He emphasized prioritizing the efforts to enact road safety laws as par with international standards and educating the stakeholders in Pakistan.
Duarte Pacheco, President Inter-Parliamentary Union, believed that road safety must be considered a severe health-related issue due to its direct and indirect costs. He called upon the parliamentarians to collaborate closely on national health safety programs.
Thomas Seiler, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Pakistan, highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to road safety and urged the partners and governments to implement an integrated safe system approach.
Director General World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in his video message, mentioned that the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 emphasized the reduction of traffic deaths by half.
The conference discussed five pillars of road safety, including safety management, safer roads and public mobility, safe vehicles, safer road users, and post–crash response.
