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The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) rescued 379,815 victims while responding to 332,516 Road Traffic Crashes (RTCs) during 2018 in all districts of Punjab. This data shows a 25% increase in the number of RTCs as compared to 265,510 crashes in 2017. The Director-General, Punjab Emergency Service, Dr Rizwan Naseer expressed these views while presiding the annual performance review meeting of Road Traffic Crashes in all districts of Punjab at Rescue Headquarters. The meeting was attended by all Heads of Wings.
He appreciated working of Provincial Monitoring Cell and expressed his concern over the increasing number of RTCs which resulted to 3,466 deaths and 193,664 seriously injured. He said that strict enforcement of traffic laws is need of the hour besides urging general public to abide by traffic laws and safety rules while driving. He appealed to the parents to play their effective role to stop underage driving and ensuring that their children & relatives wear safety helmet while riding motorbikes.
DG Rescue Punjab observed that road traffic crashes had become the leading cause of injuries. Out of 379,815 injured due to RTCs, 40,759 had head injuries, 7,128 had spinal injuries, 19,190 had multiple fractures, 57,029 had single fractures, whereas majority 255,709 were minor injured. DG Rescue Punjab further observed that males were the vulnerable road users as 79 percent of the victims were male and 21 percent female were affected in road traffic crashes whereas 3,466 died at site of accidents.
Head of Operations, Ayaz Aslam briefed the meeting that maximum accidents were reported in Lahore which included 80,804 followed by 32,899 in Faisalabad and 25,572 in Multan District. Lowest numbers of 745 accidents were observed in Murree. The data also revealed a decrease in accidents in District Rahim Yar Khan, Murree, Khanewal and Bahawalnagar whereas an increase in accidents was observed in remaining districts of Punjab.
The analysis of data revealed over speeding was the leading cause of accidents (44.72%), followed by careless driving (32.21%), Wrong Turns (8.20%) and other cases 14.87%. Whereas 92 cases of One Wheeling were reported. Moreover, motorbikes were found to be involved in 64%, cars in 7.77%, rickshaws in 11.46%, buses, trucks & van in 7.58% and 9.19% others. The data further shows that 12.52% pedestrians were injured in these accidents.
It may be added that Rescue provided post crash response to over two million road traffic crashes since its inception.
Dr Rizwan Naseer announced that Rescue will start 2019 with the commitment to establish healthy, safe and resilient communities by recommending evidence based measures to be taken by related organizations to avoid emergencies.
He asserted that Rescue Scouts will be helpful in advocacy campaign for reduction of road traffic crashes and management of emergencies.
-Published on page#24 February-2019 edition of MOBILE WORLD Magazine
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