Over the past month, two traffic accidents on the Kabul-Herat highway have resulted in 97 deaths and more than 30 injuries. With the increase in traffic accidents and deadly casualties, several citizens of Afghanistan have expressed serious concerns about the daily rise of these incidents in the capital and provinces. According to them, driver negligence, lack of clear standards in hiring them at passenger transport companies, narrow roads, widespread disregard for traffic laws, lack of seriousness in driving license tests, and the increase of second-hand Pakistani vehicles have turned the roads into “silent killing fields.”
These citizens point out that negligence, excessive speed, and disregard for traffic laws are the main reasons for the increase in these incidents. They say that passenger transport companies should exercise greater care and attention when hiring drivers to ensure that drivers are in complete health and have complete knowledge of the laws.
Siawash Seddiqi, one of the residents of Kabul city, says that passenger transport companies should exercise greater care in hiring drivers. He adds that, in addition to awareness of traffic laws, drivers should be tested for narcotics to ensure they are not addicted.
This Kabul resident notes: “One of the serious problems is that most drivers who are hired through passenger transport companies are not subjected to narcotics testing. While this matter is very important, usually no care and attention is given, and many drivers are addicted to narcotics, hashish, or tablets. This situation has repeatedly caused deadly incidents on the Kabul-Mazar, Kabul-Kandahar, and especially Kabul-Jalalabad roads, which are known as the ‘bloody road.'”
Siawash states that during the republic era, some drivers even consumed alcohol, and now a large portion of drivers have turned to narcotics. This irresponsibility poses a great danger to the lives of passengers and people.
Siawash adds: “Some drivers who have recently acquired vehicles, including some Taliban individuals who have recently come to the city, are not familiar with the laws and drive in the wrong direction or, as they say, recklessly, and do not consider speed. Some time ago, I witnessed myself that near Malalai Hospital, a Taliban vehicle drove over medians and flower pots. When it reached near the traffic police, there was a violent confrontation with him, and he was even slapped.”
Omar Walizada, another resident of Kabul, says that most traffic accidents occur due to driver carelessness. He adds that with the increase in the number of vehicles in the city, this problem has multiplied. Omar continues by stating that now the majority of those who have lost their previous jobs have turned to driving and do not know the laws properly; this issue has caused an increase in the rate of accidents and casualties.
Mr. Walizada states: “Many traffic accidents are preventable. If drivers do not have unauthorized speed, fasten their seat belts, and pedestrians are careful when crossing the road, accident statistics will decrease. We, as responsible citizens, must observe the laws so that our lives and those of others are not endangered.”
Meanwhile, some citizens consider the increase in the number of second-hand Pakistani vehicles as one of the reasons for the intensification of traffic incidents.
Zuhal Nusrat, another resident of Kabul, says that one of the reasons for the increase in traffic incidents is the daily influx of second-hand Pakistani vehicles. These vehicles have attracted more attention from people due to their cheaper prices compared to other means of transportation.
Ms. Nusrat adds: “Many unemployed young people, to provide for their livelihood, have purchased second-hand Pakistani vehicles, which are cheaper, and are working; while the majority of them are not familiar with traffic laws. Imagine an 18-year-old young person who drives does not know driving laws at all, while every job has its own principles and special conditions. On the other hand, there is no seriousness in the driving license exam either.”
This is while yesterday, as a result of a traffic accident at Arghandi intersection in Kabul, 25 people lost their lives and nearly 30 others were injured. In this incident, a type 580 bus veered off the road. The cause of this accident has also been cited as driver negligence.
Also, in another incident in Baghlan province, 24 people were injured, and two days ago, in two accidents, six people became victims of traffic incidents in Badakhshan and Balkh provinces.
Previously, the Emergency Hospital in Kabul had announced that traffic incidents had increased fivefold since the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan until now. This hospital, by publishing a report, stated that the recorded statistics of traffic incidents between March 2022 to March 2024 show a 78.5 percent increase.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
جادههای خونین افغانستان؛ قربانیان بیتدبیری و بیمسوولیتی طالبان
