Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema Inspector General, National Highway and Motorway Police speaks

Islamabad, December 13, 2013 (PPI-OT): Inspector General, National Highways and Motorways Police, Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema held a press conference at his office today to convey safety measures to be taken and arrangements made by NH and MP during prevailing foggy season.

He said to tackle the foggy situation; the NH and MP has taken numerous safety measures to make safe travelling for the road users to avoid accidents. “Special Fog Information Centers have been setup and LED screens are being installed on all Toll Plazas and start of foggy area to provide instant information regarding fog to road users” he said.

These Information Centers would start working from 16th December. The IGP said that Heavy Vehicles (HTV) and Public Transport Vehicles (PSV) would not be allowed to enter on the motorways and highways without having fog lights on the tail and head of the vehicles, as these are the cause of accidents.

He said that weather conditions on highways and motorways will be conveyed to general public through print and electronic media. He informed that, to avoid accidents during the heavy fog, motorways (M1, M2, and M3) may be closed but the closure would be made for minimum interval and time to time information would be conveyed immediately through media. However, in case of closure of any section of motorway, already travelling road users would be sent out through conveys at their destination points.

The numbers of patrolling vehicles have been increased in foggy areas to provided instant help, he added. He said that special security measures on motorways and highways have been taken for the safe travelling of road users in foggy areas, as these situations criminals may b come active. He said that in case of poor visibility on motorways, special diversion plan and alternate route map for guidance of the road users would be provided.

The Inspector General Said that before starting travelling public may check weather forecasts from information centers and NH and MP help line 130. He said to avoid travelling during dense fog and only travel in case of sever emergency. He also requested the people to avoid travelling between 06:00 am to 10:00 pm because during these times, normally heavy fog is expected in different parts of highways and motorways. If caught driving in fog, follow these safe driving tips:

• Switch the heater or air conditioner on and leave it running to keep the inside of the windscreen clear.

• In foggy area, ensure that all windows of the vehicle are opened.

• Extremely avoid reversing your vehicle in foggy area.

• Use low-beam headlights. High beams reflect off the moisture droplets in the fog, making it harder to see.

• Install fog lights in the vehicle, as yellow in front side and red at back side; and use them, in addition to your low beams.

• Be patient. Avoid passing, changing lanes and crossing traffic.

• Increase the following distance to have extra distance to brake safely.

• Avoid applying sudden breaks in foggy areas.

• Always use hazard lights in foggy area.

• If the fog is too dense to continue, pull completely off the road and try to position your vehicle in a safe parking area. Turn on your emergency flashers, in addition to keeping your low-beam headlights on. Don’t stop on the travelled portion of the road, which could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision.

• Brake gently but earlier than usual so your brake lights warn drivers behind you.

He informed with great concern that most of the causalities happened to young under the age of 30 years. Therefore, the NH and MP is strictly implementing that no motorcyclist without wearing helmet is allowed to travel on highways.

The IGP said our society was unaware of magnitude of the issue regarding road safety. He emphasized that we could control the situation as many countries did it. He said that wearing seat-belt during driving could reduce the chances of death and major injuries up to 60 to 70%, he told. Remember the accident of lady Diana, he told that only 01 survivor out of 04 of the fatal accident was wearing seat belt.

He told that strict enforcement of law on motorways had reduced occurrence of accidents. While lauding the services of media, he requested media to step forward for this national cause to create awareness on road safety so that lives of the people, especially youngsters could be saved.

For more information, contact:
M. Javed Chaudhary
PRO
National Highway and Motorway Police
Ministry for Communications
Cell: 0321-5005172