A recent road accident that claimed the lives of 19 school children has once again brought Pakistan’s poor road safety record under the spotlight. It is estimated that over 12,000 people die each year in Pakistan due to road accidents. The sheer number of accidents makes roads of Pakistan among the most dangerous in the world. These accidents are attributed to traffic rule violations, dangerous driving habits, shabby road infrastructure and now even increased substance abuse among drivers. Back in 2009, news item of an undergraduate student being crushed to death by a drunken driver made headlines in Pakistan. Studying at one of the country’s premier educational institutions, the student died instantly, while two of his friends also sustained serious injuries. While the police remained hesitant to lodge a report against the accused from an influential background, students of the university continued to protest inaction on part of the authorities. Soon the police buckled under pressure and a formal report was filed against the drunken driver.
However, not every victim of a road accident is lucky to have a voice in Pakistan. A recent proposal by the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) calls for amending the motor vehicle ordinance and banning drunken drivers for life. Under existing laws, offenders can drive away again after paying a minimal fine of only Rs3,000. The police department is hopeful that the Interior Ministry would approve the amendment to make at least the city’s roads safer. Other major metropolitan cities of the country may look at the capital city as a role model and follow suit by implementing similar laws.
Currently, Pakistan does not have a law that specifically relates to drunken driving. Even though Pakistan is perceived to be a conservative Islamic state, alcohol consumption is not alien to the country. Growing urbanization, sale of cars on lease and influence of media have aggravated the situation to increase the number of drunken drivers on the roads. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s traffic police also remain poorly equipped to take action against the apprehended drunken drivers. The government plans to introduce latest technology to instantly check whether a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. To carry out on the spot tests of the drivers, the traffic police are expected to be provided with alcohol breath test kits; alcohol testing machines and saliva testing strips.
It is heartening to see that the authorities are taking steps to make the roads safer for commuters and are committed to reducing the number of road crashes in Pakistan. At the same time, each driver must assume his or her own responsibility to develop safe driving habits and observe all traffic rules. Interestingly, driving culture in Pakistan often blames fate for the mishaps. There is an urgent need to change this belief and promote awareness among drivers that risky driving habits are the main reason behind road accidents.
