21 high accident areas identified: RTIRP findings

As many as 21 high accident areas have been identified in the metropolis. This was determined in the wake of road traffic injury findings. The results of Road Traffic Injury Research Project (RTIRP) were shared with the media during a briefing.
The results are based on a survey of Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) compiled over a 12 month period from across Karachi's major hospitals. The research project is a joint initiative of Indus Motor Company (IMC), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), NED University and Aga Khan University Hospital.
An IMC statement said the RTIRP project evaluates the nature, location, magnitude and major causes of traffic accidents in Karachi.
Five major hospitals have been selected for data collection in Karachi: Aga Khan Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Liaquat National Hospital, Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Till date over 33,000 traffic accident cases have been recorded. The research has identified 21 major black spots (high accident areas), in the city. It said 59 per cent of the road accidents involve motor bikes, 8 per cent buses/ mini buses and 11 per cent cars.
Among the road user group, the highest number of cases involved the motorcycle rider (14519) followed by pedestrians (6644) with the third highest being the pillion rider (6180).
In the age group of accident victims, 13 per cent were less than 15 years of age, nearly 20 per cent were between 16 to 20 years old and 22 per cent were between 21 to 25 years. These statistics show that more than half the road accident victims are less than 25-years old.
The research findings have been shared with the concerned stakeholders.
Sindh Governor has formed a steering committee for taking remedial measures based on the RTIRP's results.
CEO Indus Motor Company, Pervez Ghias, on the occasion briefed the press about the IMC's CSR initiatives saying, "IMC believes in Concern Beyond Cars and as a good corporate citizen, we participate in various social causes. Road safety is an important cause for Indus.
Our objective is to enhance awareness of road safety and help citizens and concerned stakeholders improve road and traffic condition to minimise accidents. The Road Traffic Injury Research Project is not about individual or organisational targets, but what we can do collectively to improve the road safety initially in Karachi and then throughout the country."
Project Manager RTIRP, S Ameer Hussain, highlighted the findings of the research Project, saying, "The highest road user group involved in road accidents was motorcycle riders and pedestrians, thus there is an urgent need to take measures to educate and protect this particular user group.
Our data shows that of the motorcycle riders who had expired, nearly 86 per cent had serious head injures and were without helmets, thus there is an urgent need to enforce helmet usage."
Director JPMC, Dr Rasheed Jooma, highlighted, "In high traffic density areas, pedestrians and riders are vulnerable, so pedestrian facilities are a necessity.
With such a large segment of the victims being young people, we appreciate Indus's initiative in starting the Toyota School Road Safety Programme, which has already reached out to 20,000 students in over 100 schools.
Apart from contributing to many health, education, environment and community development projects, Indus is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact, and was at the forefront of activities during the UN Global Road Safety Week (April 23 to 29, 2007).
In addition to the Road Traffic Injury Research Project, and the Toyota School Road Safety Programme, IMC has initiated other projects also like Free Safety Check-up of Vehicles Nation-wide at Toyota-authorised dealerships, First National Road Safety Conference and Toyota Road Safety Walks, etc.