Road accidents claim 27,500 in Pakistan

New traffic violation penalties aim to save lives, cut financial losses

ISLAMABAD: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), road accidents in Pakistan claimed 27,500 lives and injured an estimated 500,000 people in the year 2016. The statistics show that the number of casualties due to traffic accidents is three times higher than other causes of death. The 15-29 year age group was found to be the most vulnerable in traffic accidents.

In middle-income countries, financial losses due to traffic accidents are estimated to be more than 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to Pakistan's Ministry of Finance and the World Bank, Pakistan's GDP is likely to increase by Rs360 billion in 2020. Taking into account that 3 per cent GDP rise, traffic accident casualties would hurt Pakistan's economy by about US $ 11 billion next year. The government of Pakistan, on the recommendation of the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP), has consequently approved modifications in fines imposed on national highways and motorways for traffic violations.

According to official NH&MP sources, the revised twelfth schedule of the National Highway Safety Ordinance 2000 will be effective from January 1, 2020. The schedule will apply only to national highways and motorways and will not be applicable to highways or roads that come under municipal authorities of provinces, cities, and towns.

The current penalties have been modified to better implement traffic rules. The rate of modification of the various traffic violations has been determined by taking into account serious errors committed by drivers on highways. Similarly, the proposal to impose heavy fines on public service vehicles has been implemented for the safety of passengers.

After the implementation of the revised penalties in the country, car drivers will have to pay Rs2500 in fines for speed limit violations. Comparing penalties for traffic law violations in Pakistan and other countries, Pakistan’s traffic violation penalties would still be among the lowest in the world.

For violating the speed limit, the fine in Pakistan is Rs2500 while, in the United Kingdom (UK), it is 1000 pounds (Rs202,747), in Dubai 300 to 3000 dirhams (Rs12,653 to Rs126,527) and, in Saudi Arabia, the fine is 300 to 2,000 riyals (Rs12,391 to Rs82,604).

Similarly, in Pakistan, there is an Rs5,000 fine if the driver is found to be driving without a driving licence while, in the UK, the fine is 1,000 pounds sterling (Rs202,747), 400 to 500 dirhams (Rs16,870 to Rs21,088) in Dubai and 150 to 300 riyals (Rs6,165 to Rs12,391) in Saudi Arabia.

The full list of fines can be found on the Motorway Police website.