Rampant road accidents in Balochistan
Editorial :
Road accidents on national highways across Balochistan are common. Quetta-Karachi highway is called the ‘killer highway’ as 88 traffic accidents reported only from Winder district Lasbella during the last three days of Eid ul Fitr.
At least 264 people injured in 128 traffic accidents across Balochistan on the eve of Eid ul Fitr. The Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) has responded to 128 traffic accidents across Balochistan on the eve of Eid ul Fitr.
This is alarming. Over-speeding, reckless driving coupled with narrow and poorly constructed roads continue to claim precious human lives on a daily basis. Balochistan chief minister, Jam Kamal Khan’s announcement of installing speed limit meters in buses is laudable. Action needs to match his words.
The only installation of speed meters is not enough to curb rising accidents
Although the only installation of speed meters is certainly not enough to curb the rising number of road accidents on this deadly route (Quetta-Karachi), which continue to claim lives.
The province that covers half of the country in terms of the area has not a single kilometer motorway. The present coalition government has not been able to approve a single kilometer motorway project for Balochistan in the last three years.
MERC shifts 15,000 injured of road accidents to hospitals since October 2019
The Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) has shifted over 15,000 injured of road accidents to hospitals across Balochistan since October 2019. Traffic accidents continue to claim precious human lives on a daily basis in various parts of Balochistan. Over-speeding, reckless driving, and poor conditions of roads/highways are the underlying reasons behind rampant road accidents.
78 percent of those injured in traffic accidents were bike riders
MERC data also revealed that 78 percent of those injured in road accidents were bike riders. “Since there is no custom of wearing a helmet that is why most of the riders suffered head injuries”, Aziz Ahmed Jamali, the CEO of MERC revealed.
The establishment of MERC is a praiseworthy step. Its mandate is only to shift injured to hospitals to save human lives. However, the provincial government has to evolve a strategy to curb rising road accidents. Motorway police, traffic police, and levies force have to evolve a joint strategy with concerned district administrations to overcome this issue.
