Addressing road safety challenges in Pakistan: impact, remedial measures

Road accidents stand as a global menace, claiming a staggering 1.35 million lives annually, as reported by the World Health Organisation. A concerning 75% of fatalities and injuries occur within the economically active age groups of 15-64 years, with a striking 3:1 ratio of male to female casualties.

In Pakistan, the situation is grim, with approximately 27,000 casualties and an annual financial cost of $5.4 billion, placing the country among the worst globally for road safety.

Several factors contribute to this crisis, demanding urgent attention from relevant authorities. Primarily, the lack of widespread awareness concerning traffic rules and safe driving remains a critical issue, fostering frequent violations, pedestrian rights neglect, and an elevated risk of accidents.

The absence of comprehensive awareness campaigns, coupled with inconsistent enforcement, exacerbates this problem. Initiatives such as grassroots education, modern communication channel utilisation, community engagement, and integrating traffic education into school curricula are pivotal for cultivating a culture of safe driving.

Moreover, the country grapples with significant challenges in its road infrastructure, marked by engineering faults, deterioration, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient expansion to accommodate growing traffic demands.

Examples like the Kallar Kahar Salt Range on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway illustrate the urgent need for improved road engineering. Addressing these concerns demands sustainable planning, increased investments, and strategic maintenance to enhance the quality, safety, and accessibility of road infrastructure, foster economic growth, and ensure safer travel experiences.

The non-standardised driving licencing system in Pakistan contributes to challenges in ensuring consistent standards and competency among drivers. Discrepancies in testing protocols, evaluation criteria, and the issuance of driving permits result from the absence of a unified licencing procedure across regions. Corruption and inadequate training further aggravate these issues. Establishing a standardised and centralised driving licencing system, incorporating modern testing methods, stringent evaluation criteria, and mandatory road safety education, is crucial for reducing road crashes.

Outdated legislation regarding road safety is another critical challenge, hindering effective measures to address modern transportation issues. Existing laws often fail to keep pace with evolving road dynamics, technological advancements, and emerging safety concerns, resulting in inadequate enforcement and loopholes in ensuring comprehensive safety standards. Laws such as the Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965 and the National Highway Safety Ordinance of 2000 require revision to align with present-day requirements.

Addressing these challenges through coordinated efforts involving government agencies, the legislature, civil society, and active citizen participation is crucial.

The road to safer highways and motorways in Pakistan is a journey, but every step towards increased awareness is a step in the right direction.

By equipping the masses with relevant knowledge, demanding accountability, and prioritising safety, we can transform the road and driving culture in Pakistan to meet international standards. —Shah Asad Khan (National Highways and Motorways Police)