Road traffic accidents (RTAs) present a terrifying spectacle for all. An accident, by definition, is an unexpected, unplanned, and harmful event that causes injury, fatality, or property damage. Road traffic safety encompasses the methods, measures, and precautions designed to safeguard road users from serious harm in the event of an unfortunate incident. Effective traffic safety hinges on the “Three E’s”: Education, Enforcement, and Road Engineering. Collectively, these three pillars are indispensable for reducing both fatal and non-fatal accidents.
Human error causes 92% of road traffic accidents in Pakistan, yet enforcement and education remain critically underdeveloped.
Despite being a rising public health concern, road traffic incidents are still not adequately reported. The World Health Organization estimates that every year, 1.35 million people die in traffic accidents, and another 20 to 50 million are injured; many of them permanently face disability. According to official data, traffic accidents in Pakistan claim the lives of between 15,000 and 16,000 persons each year, leaving over 50,000 disabled. Sadly, vulnerable road users like passengers, motorcyclists, and pedestrians are involved in almost half of these fatalities. These numbers exceed the ratio of fatalities from numerous diseases and terrorist attacks, but road safety is still woefully underfunded in public policy.
An increase in fatal traffic accidents in Punjab exposes a deadly interplay of inadequate infrastructure, overloading, and human error. The pattern of RTAs is bleak, causing because of overcrowded buses to unlit tractor-trolleys, motorcycles, and overloaded rickshaws. The risk is increased by narrow highways, lax enforcement, and vehicle modifications. Despite initiatives like axle-load management by PHP 1124 and NHMP, deaths continue because of corruption and a lack of compliance. This year alone, the province of Punjab has seen a 29% increase in crashes, according to Rescue 1122. In the absence of funding for road safety infrastructure, more stringent laws, and driver education, this situation will worsen.
There are different types of accidents, such as side-impact, head–on, rollover, run-off road (ROR) crash, and equipment breakdown vehicle accidents. Almost 92% accidents happen due to human error, 3% vehicular problems, 4% road conditions (Engineering), and 1% environmental factors. Population explosion and an increase in traffic volume are other crucial factors of accidents on roads. The increase in the ratio of accidents is a growing threat to public health. Road traffic injuries (RTIs) have a colossal impact on the survivors. Accidents cause not only fatalities, injuries but also incur economic difficulties for the families in case of the death of bread breadwinner.
Uniform pricing and weak road infrastructure worsen safety, particularly in Punjab, where crashes rose 29% this year.
There are multiple reasons for road traffic accidents (RTA). The road commuters do not bother to abide by traffic rules. The drivers on the Rickshaw/Ching-Chee and Motorcycles are mostly underage and without a license. The inadequate knowledge about traffic rules and signs is another cause of road crashes and nuisance on roads. Furthermore, the use of a Mobile phone, not wearing a safety helmet and seat belt, makes riding hazardous and renders the rider and driver vulnerable to injuries and even death in case of an accident.
The infringement of one way, jumping the red signal, violation of lane-line discipline, and not maintaining a safe distance cause grievous accidents on roads. Furthermore, the distraction, failure to recognize danger, and unsafe environmental factors imperil the lives of road commuters. Moreover, the usage of high beam lights blurs the eyesight of other side and coming drivers and causes mishaps. People used to tailgate the vehicle in the dense fog; this unwisely driving practice leads to rear-end collisions. Road rage and the “red mist” phenomenon are examples of how emotional instability and stress can cause people to drive recklessly, putting lives in danger. More to say, controlling anger while driving a vehicle is essential to avert a road accident.
Drivers should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. There is a two-second golden formula to avoid rear-end collisions; that is, allow at least two seconds of lead time in normal weather conditions, and more in the event of inclement weather. Furthermore, the driver needs to watch out for erratic drivers. No matter how conscious and careful you are, it is often the mistake of other drivers that puts you in danger. Therefore, expect others to make mistakes. This way of thinking will help keep you alert to wayward and reckless drivers.
Public awareness of road safety is alarmingly low. However, the Mobile Education units of Punjab Highway Patrol, Motorway police, City Traffic police, and 1122 rescue can make an unprecedented impact by inculcating road sense among road users and delivering lectures on the topic of defensive driving techniques, conducting road shows, and organizing traffic awareness camps. The prevalent dire situation necessitates enhanced mobilization of concerned departments to create sensitization and awareness in the public.
Evidence-based strategies like Sweden’s “Vision Zero” and the Netherlands’ bike-first planning offer replicable success models for Pakistan.
Disciplined driving is in need of time. Traffic awareness seminars should be conducted in schools, colleges, public/private universities, bus terminals, Goods Transport stations, and business centers to impart the message of road safety awareness and abidance of traffic rules to students, drivers, and the community.
The youth is the future of our country. Road safety weeks are the best option to create awareness about different traffic violations. This traffic awareness move projects through social, electronic, and print media to spread the message to a larger audience. Road safety education needs to be an integral part of curricula from the level of school up to university.
The installation of road furniture, visible road marking, and traffic signals will help in mitigating accidents. The road infrastructure should be commensurate with the increasing traffic volume. We need to realize that road safety is a community issue. Furthermore, the violation of traffic rules is an anomalous behaviour resulting in road traffic accidents and injuries. Road traffic accident (RTA) entails not only physical but also emotional trauma to the victim and the entire family.
Furthermore, nations that have demonstrated success in reducing traffic accidents provide useful examples that should be imitated. Sweden has one of the lowest rates of road fatalities in the world as a result of its “Vision Zero” strategy, which puts human life above speed. Road safety awareness is common in Japan, which also imposes stringent driving exams and pedestrian priority rules.
In a similar vein, the Netherlands sets the standard for bike-friendly infrastructure, traffic-calming schemes, and car-less urban planning. These countries are successful not just because they enforce the law strictly but also because they promote a culture of safety that is bolstered by stringent legislation and active public participation in road safety awareness programmes. Such evidence-based measures are necessary for Pakistan to implement to make its roads safer for everyone.
Highlighting the essential role of evidence-based approaches in road safety, Punjab should formalize practical research collaborations between the police and universities. By signing MOUs, police can access real-world studies; deploy traffic-flow sensors, GIS mapping of crash hotspots, and behavioral surveys to uncover reckless driving patterns. Students could lead helmet campaigns and safety workshops, while scholars pilot and evaluate interventions like smart-signaling systems or redesigned intersections and traffic Islands. This data-driven academic partnership empowers enforcement and infrastructure planning, transforming Punjab’s road safety efforts from reactive policing to proactive and evidence-based prevention.
Academic-police partnerships using crash mapping and behavior analysis can shift Punjab’s traffic safety from reactive to preventive.
However, coordinated action and a wholesome approach are necessary to reduce traffic accidents. Nevertheless, it is imperative to identify accident-prone areas, upgrade pedestrian infrastructure, and implement preventative measures. Additionally, the rigorous enforcement of traffic laws, which serves as a powerful deterrent against infractions, is equally crucial. This is achieved by an AI-powered ANPR system, CCTV monitoring, hefty fines, vehicle impoundment, and temporary detentions of traffic violators.
However, enforcement is insufficient on its own. Road safety is a shared responsibility that necessitates civic engagement, sensibility, and public awareness. The severity of the situation is clear; of the 1.35 million road traffic fatalities reported worldwide annually, an estimated 15,000 to 16,000 occur in Pakistan. Road traffic accidents are a preventable tragedy that will persist unless authorities and citizens engage in sustained, sincere, collaborative endeavours to address the root causes. Many lives can be saved, and our traffic culture can be improved with a shared commitment to safer roads.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
