Daily Times

LAHORE: Dozing off at wheel is and can be dangerous as at least five people were killed and nine others injured in 42 accidents this year on National Highway N-5 (Central Zone), which were caused when drivers behind the wheels fell asleep.

In this connection, the Central Zone imparted briefing to 16,783 public service vehicles, 20,186 heavy transport vehicles (HTVs) and 11,744 light transport vehicles (LTVs) regarding awareness campaign about dozing at the wheel. As many as 30 wakes up points had been established in prominent places on N-5 Central Zone to minimize the number of accidents, said DIG Mirza Faran Baig while observing a special awareness campaign about dozing at wheel.

On the directives of the DIG, the National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) N-5 Central Zone is organising a two-week ‘Dozing at Wheel’ campaign in which officers will brief motorists, especially drivers of HTVs and PSVs, to take proper rest during long journey, and in case they feel drowsy, they should stay somewhere and have a cup of tea.

The NH&MP officers have also been directed to ensure use of hooters and horns whenever any HTV vehicle or passenger bus passes them, especially in dead part of night. The officers have further been asked to visit different hotels and rest areas, besides national highways to brief and educate drivers staying there about the phenomenon of ‘dozing at wheel’.

In order to make the campaign successful and meaningful, a Mobile Education Unit of the Central Zone will also visit different goods transport and passenger bus terminals from Lahore to Rahim Yar Khan in order to brief and educate drivers. Banners containing awareness messages will be displayed at all the important places on national highways.

NH&MP DIG Mirza Faran Baig has asked the officers of the Central Zone to take personal interest in the campaign in order to make it meaningful and result oriented.