22:00
Unknown
Islamabad
Traffic on the Islamabad Expressway that once flowed freely now barely moves during rush hours.
Office-goers who work in Islamabad but live in Rawalpindi describe how troublesome and time-consuming the supposedly short journey has become.
Many people opt to stay on in the office well after 5:00 p.m. instead of hitting the road. “It is better to stay back for a couple of hours instead of getting stuck in traffic at peak hour,” says Tariq Shafi who works in the capital and lives in Bahria Town.
The first choking point for those heading to Rawalpindi is the police check post at Faizabad where tailbacks occur. Further up, the traffic signals at three points — Dhoke Kala Khan, Khanna Pul and the Airport Intersection stretch the motorists’ patience to the limit.
“I at times have to wait a good 30 minutes to cross the traffic signal at the Airport intersection,” says Asif Ali, a social worker who has his home in Chaklala Scheme III. “Each day I get home by 8 p.m. after leaving office at 5:30 p.m.”
The traffic situation gets particularly worse when the CNG Stations along the Expressway begin supplying gas and hundreds of vehicles queue up further slowing down traffic.
Adding to all this chaos is another check post close to the airport turning and the signal at the Chaklala Roundabout.
However, after the rush hours, the Expressway is a picture in contrast, creating problems of another kind — speeding and reckless driving. The road becomes virtually free-for-all.
Although the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) frequently carries out speed checks, the problem continues to persist leaving disciplined and law-abiding drivers at the mercy of the daredevils behind most wheels.
Zigzagging through traffic and doing so without indicating, flashing lights unnecessarily at night, jumping traffic signals and indulging in other dangerous manoeuvres are evidence the problem has spiralled out of control.
Drivers of trucks, buses and vans that stream into town from other cities also indulge in speeding with many not even aware of the speed limits while others intentionally opt to ignore them.
Until a few years ago, hitting the Expressway (the Islamabad Highway then) from other crowded roads used to be delight — so wide and inviting was the road and so thin the traffic. Today, however, there is a sea of vehicles on both sides of the dual carriageway.
Ansar Javed Khatana, an expert in traffic education, says the public needs to be educated on road safety and other aspects if this problem is to be combated. “We have to analyse what are the areas that require attention and then these should be addressed one by one.”
He said the problems we see on our roads today were the result of driving licences having been issued without proper tests in yesteryear. “This is why we have drivers who have no clue whatsoever about traffic rules and regulations.”
Experts point out no matter how heavy the load of traffic, if the motorists were disciplined, there wouldn’t be any danger and no traffic jams. “If everyone just starts obeying all the road signs, there would be fewer accidents.”
For discipline to return to the expressway however, the ITP would have to put its foot down and catch errant motorists with all seriousness, fine them and make them realise how their acts could cause problems for others.
Traffic on the Islamabad Expressway that once flowed freely now barely moves during rush hours.
Office-goers who work in Islamabad but live in Rawalpindi describe how troublesome and time-consuming the supposedly short journey has become.
Many people opt to stay on in the office well after 5:00 p.m. instead of hitting the road. “It is better to stay back for a couple of hours instead of getting stuck in traffic at peak hour,” says Tariq Shafi who works in the capital and lives in Bahria Town.
The first choking point for those heading to Rawalpindi is the police check post at Faizabad where tailbacks occur. Further up, the traffic signals at three points — Dhoke Kala Khan, Khanna Pul and the Airport Intersection stretch the motorists’ patience to the limit.
“I at times have to wait a good 30 minutes to cross the traffic signal at the Airport intersection,” says Asif Ali, a social worker who has his home in Chaklala Scheme III. “Each day I get home by 8 p.m. after leaving office at 5:30 p.m.”
The traffic situation gets particularly worse when the CNG Stations along the Expressway begin supplying gas and hundreds of vehicles queue up further slowing down traffic.
Adding to all this chaos is another check post close to the airport turning and the signal at the Chaklala Roundabout.
However, after the rush hours, the Expressway is a picture in contrast, creating problems of another kind — speeding and reckless driving. The road becomes virtually free-for-all.
Although the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) frequently carries out speed checks, the problem continues to persist leaving disciplined and law-abiding drivers at the mercy of the daredevils behind most wheels.
Zigzagging through traffic and doing so without indicating, flashing lights unnecessarily at night, jumping traffic signals and indulging in other dangerous manoeuvres are evidence the problem has spiralled out of control.
Drivers of trucks, buses and vans that stream into town from other cities also indulge in speeding with many not even aware of the speed limits while others intentionally opt to ignore them.
Until a few years ago, hitting the Expressway (the Islamabad Highway then) from other crowded roads used to be delight — so wide and inviting was the road and so thin the traffic. Today, however, there is a sea of vehicles on both sides of the dual carriageway.
Ansar Javed Khatana, an expert in traffic education, says the public needs to be educated on road safety and other aspects if this problem is to be combated. “We have to analyse what are the areas that require attention and then these should be addressed one by one.”
He said the problems we see on our roads today were the result of driving licences having been issued without proper tests in yesteryear. “This is why we have drivers who have no clue whatsoever about traffic rules and regulations.”
Experts point out no matter how heavy the load of traffic, if the motorists were disciplined, there wouldn’t be any danger and no traffic jams. “If everyone just starts obeying all the road signs, there would be fewer accidents.”
For discipline to return to the expressway however, the ITP would have to put its foot down and catch errant motorists with all seriousness, fine them and make them realise how their acts could cause problems for others.
Posted in: Islamabad
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