Pakistan is a Developing country with many alarming issues that are underrated and should not be overlooked. One of these are road accidents which are growing at an alarming price in recent years. Cities like Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and Rawalpindi which are centers of trade and are heavily crowded by traffic day and night with swarms of light and heavy traffic vehicles roaming without any proper check and balance. Reckless driving and loose checks of officials have led the country to an extent that Pakistan has become the country with the most road injuries and deaths in South Asia.
In the year 2022, the ratio of fatal accidents on road was noted as 43% which also led to loss of 2.5% GDP of Pakistan (Shah, 2023). The main causes of these accidents are firstly reckless driving more specifically public transporters, the race to get more and more passengers and to earn more from other competitors often lead them to over speed and overlook all of traffic rules and signals, secondly the bike riders are the most victims of these fatal road accidents and the most number of deaths are also recorded amongst these people as they take advantage of the short length and width of their vehicle and try to take every wrong route ad turns to get early to their destinations.
I personally have the experience and have witnessed many bike riders driving carelessly risking their lives and in addition they also ignore safety measures like wearing a helmet and maintaining their bikes lights and indicators. The traffic officials also seem careless about these issues, leaving some cities free in terms of traffic restrictions and vehicle maintenance is never considered at any cost.
Another important factor that plays an important role in these accident is the poor condition of the road, the roads in cities even like Islamabad If we visit Lehtrar Road and Bani Gala which are in the main city we might be able to witness that roads have broken down and speed bumps without warning signs are everywhere also the traffic lights are out of work. I witness every day in my routine going to my University through the Park Road where a Police Station, National Institute of Health and many other important buildings are situated. The condition of the roads is begging for mercy and the number of people taking the wrong ways and having accidents are high.
To lessen the number of road injuries in Pakistan, there is a want for more funding in street infrastructure, higher enforcement of visitors’ legal guidelines, and a focus on instructing drivers about safe driving practices. This could be done by coordination of media and regulatory authorities to lessen risks of reckless riding, as well as tasks to enhance street protection infrastructure, which includes putting in visitors’ lights and signs at intersections. Traffic rules violators should be treated strictly and equally in every city and in every area.
In conclusion, avenue injuries are a primary trouble in Pakistan, with lots of lives lost each year. However, with more funding in avenue infrastructure, better enforcement of site visitors’ legal guidelines, and multiplied schooling about secure riding practices, it’s far feasible to reduce the quantity of accidents and shop lives.