Mapping road safety

Irony is called to attention when we consider Pakistan’s geolocation as one of its key advantages over other regional countries contrasted with its internal infrastructure in many respects. One such regard is its road infrastructure. A view of city road maps underscores the lack of planning with coherent vision showing convoluted streets and expressways. Then, there is the anarchy. Vehicle operators and pedestrians seldom apply common sense when it comes to road safety, let alone traffic rules. Public service messages about road safety have been advertised in recent years but without resulting in change at the necessary pace. Finally, Minister of State for Communications Murad Saeed has brought focus to the human health and safety topic by establishing the Pakistan National Road Safety Strategy (PNRSS) 2018-2030 with the cooperation of the Asian Development Bank and UK-Aid.

The approach to mitigate traffic fatalities is intriguing. Setting goals is relevant, especially to strategise the spread of awareness. The length of time is also rather comfortable — over a decade to implement the changes. However, a major piece of the puzzle is the rules and regulations to hold people accountable for transgression, knowingly or unknowingly. The 12 years allocated are perhaps too generous considering the deadly statistics provided by Mr Saeed that a person is injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident every five minutes in Pakistan. The number of accidents is much larger since many go unreported.

Awareness will go a long way but the pace needs to be accelerated and more accountability placed on citizens. Starting with some uniformity in basic rules will help in achieving basic progress faster, such as enacting a law compelling drivers drive below a certain speed limit in all residential and school areas. We hope to see the PNRSS swiftly implemented as it seems to be a viable step towards this large public health and safety issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2018.

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