Deadly roads

THE horrific bus crash at the Balochistan-KP border on Friday should prompt greater scrutiny of road safety measures. Unfortunately, tragedies like these stay in the headlines for a day or two and are then forgotten, with no serious effort made to examine the causes and prevent such accidents in future. At least 40 people perished as the bus, headed for Peshawar, plunged into a deep ravine. While the Balochistan chief minister has ordered an inquiry into the accident, some officials have been quoted as saying that the vehicle was overloaded. A thorough probe can ascertain the facts. Rescue efforts were also hindered by the rugged terrain at the site of the accident.

Whether it is perilous urban roads, thoroughfares in remote locations or poorly maintained highways, Pakistan’s road safety record does not inspire confidence. The figures are stark. According to the Asian Transport Observatory, the state reported around 5,000 fatalities in road crashes in 2021. This may be a grossly underreported figure, for the WHO estimates that the actual fatality figure for the year in question may have been around 28,000. Other monitors report even higher estimates. Therefore, the first requirement is up-to-date — and accurate — data regarding fatalities on the roads. As the ATO notes, “inconsistency in data collection … makes it difficult to asses the true extent of the problem”. Amongst the major causes of road accidents are rash driving and the poor condition of roads. According to the ATO, there is a “need for significant investment in improving road infrastructure to meet safety standards”. Bad roads are a problem not only in distant towns and the rural backwaters; but also on major city highways, such as the M9 which connects Karachi to Hyderabad. Furthermore, reckless driving, particularly many drivers’ near-suicidal disregard for safety protocols, creates hazards on the country’s roads. Driving on the wrong side and speeding are common on our roads and highways, reflecting a regulatory failure. Unless the violation of traffic rules, including rash driving, are penalised, our roads will remain hazardous. Vehicles must also be in good working condition. Additionally, rescue services need to be situated in a way that they can be dispatched at short notice in case of emergencies. In order to prevent more such tragedies, the state, and road users themselves, must pledge to uphold and follow safety regulations.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2026

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