Sources recorded that Pakistan, greater than 70 percent of the road users do not have even basic ethics while they are on road. Particularly bike riders, rickshaw and chingchi drivers do not even stop when the lights are red and even car drivers sometimes drive carefully. The condition is getting bad with every passing day as population is growing and more people are moving to metropolitan cities for education and career opportunities. People in Pakistan are running out of patience while driving, which is dangerous as over speeding, drivers do not pay attention who is coming behind them. Another thing is negligence of road signs and bridges while crossing through roads in the country.
According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) statistics every year the lives of almost 1.3 million people are cut short as a consequence of a road traffic crash. Between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. Truly speaking, road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole. These losses arise from the cost of treatment also lost productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries, and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured.
| Pakistan: Traffic Accidents in 2020 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year/Month | Total Number of Accidents | Accidents | Persons | Total Number of Vehicles Involved | |||
| Fatal | Non – Fatal | Killed | Injured | ||||
| Jul | 835 | 353 | 482 | 445 | 1030 | 1243 | |
| Aug | 906 | 380 | 526 | 471 | 1196 | 1319 | |
| Sep | 961 | 422 | 539 | 512 | 1143 | 1392 | |
| Oct | 1020 | 476 | 544 | 574 | 1232 | 1467 | |
| Nov | 855 | 418 | 437 | 517 | 979 | 1266 | |
| Dec | 830 | 383 | 447 | 465 | 988 | 1220 | |
Road traffic crashes costing most countries 3 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP). It is recorded that the United Nations General Assembly has set an ambitious target of halving the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2030. More than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Statistics show that total 93 percent of the world’s fatalities on the roads occur in low- and middle-income countries, even though these countries have almost 60 percent of the world’s vehicles. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years globally.
- A rise in average speed is directly related both to the likelihood of a crash occurring and to the severity of the consequences of the crash. For example, every 1 percent raise in mean speed produces a 4 percent raise in the fatal crash risk and a 3 percent raise in the serious crash risk.
- The death risk for pedestrians hit by car fronts rises rapidly (4.5 times from 50 km/h to 65 km/h).
- In car-to-car side impacts the fatality risk for car occupants is 85 percent at 65 km/h.
- Correct helmet use can lead to a 42 percent reduction in the risk of fatal injuries and a 69 percent reduction in the risk of head injuries.
- Wearing a seat-belt reduces the risk of death among drivers and front seat occupants by 45 to 50 percent, and the risk of death and serious injuries among rear seat occupants by 25 percent.
- The use of child restraints can lead to a 60 percent reduction in deaths.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is a thickly populated developing country facing various traffic challenges in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh. The traffic on roads comprises of pedestrians, bikes, cars, trucks, buses and other conveyances. Traffic awareness programmes must be organized specially for children as well as elders sufficiently to become safe road users. These programs are required for every age group to reassure safe traffic activities. For awareness of road users, it can be easily done via electronic media. And for uneducated users, road safety instructions should be purposeful and simple. Road safety programmes may be organized at educational institutions as well as at work as well as public places.
To keep every citizen save from any accident and loss, the traffic awareness programme is very much significant. More importantly, presently various traffic awareness programs (traffic rules and sense of road signs) are being taught in educational institutions in developed states like Japan, USA, China, Australia, and Netherland. In the same way, people in Pakistan must be made aware of traffic regulations and rules like traffic signs, no parking, use of speed breakers, parking, provisions of motor vehicles act, tips for motorcyclists, accident prevention tips, traffic control and accident scene.
The rising traffic in the cities in Pakistan, also rural regions of the state, has emphasized the significance of road safety programs for all of citizens mainly the age group 15 to 20 years. The main aim of road safety program is to avoid casualties as Pakistanis have no best ethics regarding traffic. Regarding this, various safety programs have been organized by the government to make sure the active contribution of citizens and get an awareness of road safety. It is said that Pakistan has become the 5th most populated country globally with population greater than 220 million.
Unluckily, the pedestrians do not use bridges while crossing the roads, causing trouble to whole traffic and risking their lives just to save 5 or 10 seconds. This is the time for the government of Pakistan and even concerned authorities to take strict actions against all the violators.
Conclusion
People should be encouraged to drive after successfully passing the driving test. On the other hand, bike riders should be encouraged to wear safety gear (Helmet, safety jacket, etc.) while riding. Safety signs should be displayed on all of the main roads. It is the duty of all of us to respect traffic regulations and drive carefully. It is better to arrive late than never.