Bikers are a major concern in Karachi’s rising traffic accidents, with AIG Javed Alam Odho highlighting that they make up 57% of the city’s road fatalities.
At a recent press conference, Odho vowed to take action against the city’s growing traffic accident rates, promising steps to make the roads safer.
“Recently, there’s been a worrying rise in traffic deaths, and urgent measures are needed,” Odho said, noting that 489 people have already died in accidents this year, with 345 cases reported. He added that some families don’t pursue legal action, especially when the victim was at fault.
According to Odho, heavy vehicles contribute to around 50% of accidents, and many victims are bikers, rickshaw riders, and pedestrians.
To tackle this, the police are raising fines for negligent heavy vehicle drivers, and arrested drivers will not be released unless they get bail. This year, over 7,000 drivers have been apprehended, and more than 350 vehicles have been involved in registered cases.
Odho also called for public awareness campaigns to improve motorcyclist safety. Speeding and not wearing helmets are major causes of accidents. A 10-day campaign will encourage bikers to wear helmets and fix rearview mirrors to reduce accidents.
The police chief also pointed out that traffic disruptions caused by public protests, especially those related to power outages, further complicate the situation.
As for reckless driving, Odho stressed that strict legal action will be taken against unlicensed drivers and their vehicle owners. “We won’t tolerate anyone endangering lives on the road,” he warned, adding that drivers must undergo training to ensure they follow traffic rules.
Odho reassured the public that the police are taking all necessary steps to enforce traffic laws and prioritize citizen safety.