Danger on the road

When bad luck strikes Pakistan, it does so from every possible direction. Days after the nation mourned the loss of dozens of Pakistani pilgrims who died in a road accident in Iran, people have now received the news of another tragic accident involving pilgrims who were returning from Iran. This happened on the Kahuta-Rawalpindi route in Pakistan and resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people, including seven women and one child. The gruesome tragedy is yet another reminder of how the government has been failing to provide secure road infrastructure to its people. The country has many thoroughfares that are built on hilly terrains. The lack of maintenance has turned these busy roads into death traps, with the government casually mentioning ‘dangerous road conditions’ as a way to describe the inevitability of such accidents. But countries around the world have been taking various measures to make the roads safer for their people. Most countries are investing in public infrastructure where buses have dedicated, safe tracks. This allows drivers to drive straight without any roadblocks that could require dangerous turns.

The second important measure is to take care of the physical and mental health of drivers. Bus transportation is mainly run by private players who want their employees (drivers) to cover multiple trips. Most drivers prefer a 24-hour shift with a day off the next day to make as much money as possible. Some survive on energy and nicotine products to dodge sleep. These tired and fazed drivers often end up making mistakes that prove to be fatal. It is rather surprising that authorities have not yet come up with a mechanism to ensure that drivers are properly rested and well-fed. Private players continue to dominate the transportation landscape and act like bullies, in front of both passengers and drivers. As we are moving towards digitization, such workplaces should also be digitized and employers should be required to maintain a log of the number of work hours clocked in by drivers to ensure that overworked and tired drivers are not being forced to drive heavy vehicles – and that too on dangerous terrains.

Investment in safe public transport is also important to provide safer alternatives to people. Every other day, people learn about tragic road accidents. This has to change. People should also rise against this. Better roads, affordable public transport, and government checks are essential to prevent road deaths. Equally important for the government is to follow up on the health of the injured. Pledges made on camera will not be enough to make the country livable. Authorities will now have to walk the talk and fix the loopholes present in our governance structure.