By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
The significance of traffic and transportation engineering
in ensuring road safety, was highlighted at a seminar on engineering aspects of
road traffic accident organized by the Sir Syed University of Engineering &
Technology (SSUET), Karachi, at its campus on September 24.
In his keynote address on the occasion, Prof Mir Shabbar
Ali, Chairman Urban and Infrastructure Engineering, NED University of
Engineering & Technology, gave a detailed presentation and described that
road traffic injury or accident was a manmade problem, which can be addressed
through sound engineering solutions.
He observed that in the absence of a mass transit system in
Karachi, the volume of traffic had increased manifolds and explained that
people had no choice but forced to maintain their own vehicle and as a result
ratio of vehicles per household has increased. Similarly, he pointed out, the
number of motor cycles had also risen and more than two million were plying in
the city.
He remarked that the majority of work force use low capacity
mini buses in inhuman conditions with pressure on roads increasing with every
passing day.
The nature of traffic was such it was hazardous for
pedestrians particularly children, boys, girls, women and old persons, Prof
Shabbar stated, adding that approximately 35,671 accidents occurred in the year
2012 with 1000 being fatal.
He said motorcycles and pedestrians had a combined share of
80% in road accidents and there had been an increase of 35% in accidents since
last year which was a matter of great concern.
Earlier Prof Dr S M Makhdumi, Dean Engineering, who presided
over the seminar introduced the topic and explained the significance of traffic
and transportation engineering in ensuring road safety..
Other speakers included Eng. Abdul Qadir Bhutto, Traffic
Consultant, and Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, a former DG Mass Transit CDGK and
presently an Assistant Professor at the SSUET.
Eng Abdul Qadir described his experiences of traffic
engineering while Malik Zaheer emphasized upon 4 Es of traffic and
transportation engineering-Engineering, Enforcement, Evaluation and Education.
At the seminar, common causes of road accidents were
identified as being driving mistakes, over speeding, driving under influence of
stress, tail gating with low tolerance level showing aggressive temperament on
roads, distractions during driving by use of cell phones, motorcyclists
avoiding helmet.
Poor lane discipline, overtaking in wrong manner and
frequently changing lanes particularly by mini bus drivers and motorbikes, poor
condition of road with potholes, craters, cracks on roads uneven surface, wet
spillage, sharp horizontal and vertical curves and undivided roadways were
identified as other causes, besides construction on footpaths with hardly any
space left for pedestrians to use sidewalks.
It was observed that after closer of U-turns and
construction of signal free corridors the pedestrian find difficult to cross
road. Pedestrian bridges being far apart and difficult for people to cross
roads like Shahrah-e-Faisal, maintenance of pedestrian bridges also being
inadequate while Zebra crossing not marked, Traffic signs missing and
road construction works carried out without proper road diversions.
The seminar was organized by Assistant Prof. Engr Asif
Mohyiuddin, jointly with Assistant Prof Asif Abassi, lecturers Engr Hafiz
Arsalan, Tayyaba Batool and Engr Anus.
Among others, the seminar was attended by Prof Fahim Ahsan,
Assistant Prof. Khurshid Jamal, Shahid Saleem, lecturer Saleem Khan Kundi
besides a large number of students.
Prof. Dr. Shabbar, Engr Asif Mohiuddin, Engr Asif Abassi and
Malik Zaheer suggested a number of engineering solutions to avoid road traffic
accidents like improvement in infrastructure, primary treatment of road i.e.
grade separation, properly designed intersection, providing advance warning
signs, functional signals detailed engineering analysis and treatment of black
spots.
Dr. Shabbar recommended and called for an in-depth analysis
of all traffic components and traffic safety audit. He emphasized that emerging
technology in engineering aspects of road traffic must be utilized in
developing road safety models and effective traffic management.
Prof Fahim Ahsan, Traffic Consultant, mentioned that road
safety measures were only possible with a support program to educate people and
create awareness in masses of all ages with proper publicity in print and
electronic media.
