AS a patrol officer with the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP), I have witnessed numerous accidents. But the recent tragedy in Lasbela that claimed the lives of five sisters stands out as a particularly heart-wrenching one.

The accident underscored the urgent need to address the root causes of road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Balochistan. The N-25 highway connecting Chaman to Karachi is burdened with heavy traffic. While dualisation efforts are underway, the pace of construction is agonisingly slow, leaving the road in a perilous state.

Beyond infrastructure, several other factors contribute to the increasing number of RTAs in Balochistan. A lack of proper driving education and training remains a critical issue. Reckless driving practices, such as overspeeding, overtaking on blind curves, using mobile phone while driving, and general negligence are widespread.

Poor vehicle maintenance and overl-oading of vehicles, especially trucks and buses, add to the risk. Compounding these problems is the lack of strict enforcement of traffic regulations, allowing the drivers to flout rules with impunity. Road conditions themselves are often treacherous, with potholes, narrow lanes and poorly maintained surfaces creating hazardous driving environments, parti-cularly in remote areas. Driver fatigue is another significant factor, as long hours on the road without adequate rest impair judgment and reaction times.

Addressing these challenges requires a multipronged approach. While the dualisation of highways like the N-25 is critical, efforts must also focus on raising public awareness about road safety and ensuring stricter enforcement of traffic laws. Regular vehicle inspections and professional driver training programmes should be implemented to reduce negli-gence. A collaborative effort involving the government, the NHMP and the public is essential to make Balochistan’s roads safer, and prevent future tragedies.

Adam Marri
Gwadar

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2025