In an effort to enhance road safety, the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) has announced a new mandate requiring both motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets. According to Islamabad Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Zeeshan Haider, this regulation will be enforced after a two-week public awareness campaign. Following the campaign, fines will be issued to both the rider and any passenger found without a helmet.
CTO Haider emphasized that this requirement applies equally to all motorcyclists, regardless of gender. He also highlighted that this measure is expected to increase the survival rate in motorcycle accidents by as much as 50%.
Motorcycles are a popular and affordable mode of transportation in Pakistan, particularly for a large segment of the population. However, they are also vulnerable to accidents, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities due to factors such as driver error and the absence of safety precautions like helmets. While riders may often wear helmets, pillion riders frequently do not, leaving them at significant risk in the event of a crash.
The situation in Karachi underscores this point, with motorcycle accidents accounting for a significant proportion of road casualties. So far this year, over 370 people have died and more than 5,500 have been injured in road accidents in Karachi, many of which involved motorcycles. In contrast, deaths from heavy traffic in Karachi this year number 138. Rescue sources reported that in 2024, Karachi recorded 775 deaths and 8,111 injuries as a result of road accidents.
