The surge in traffic incidents on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway, particularly in Maidan Wardak province, has sparked serious concerns among travelers. Some travelers and drivers voice worries about the high number of traffic accidents, branding this highway as a site of bloody traffic incidents. Drivers attribute the increasing number of traffic incidents to the lack of traffic signs and the presence of right-hand drive vehicles.
According to some drivers and passengers interviewed by the Hasht-e Subh Daily, they witnessed the bloodiest traffic events in the Maidan Wardak province along the Kabul-Kandahar highway over the past month. They claim that these traffic incidents have also claimed civilian lives.
Some travelers using this highway occasionally state that after the reconstruction of parts of the road, reckless driving and lack of caution among drivers have led to severe traffic incidents.
However, drivers argue that the absence of traffic signs and the presence of right-hand drive vehicles have increased the occurrence of traffic events. They further claim that without proper traffic signs, the situation will worsen.
Meanwhile, sources within the Taliban-controlled traffic management in Maidan Wardak province informed the Hasht-e Subh Daily that in the past month, 26 traffic incidents have been recorded in the province, resulting in at least 37 deaths and injuries.
The Kabul-Kandahar highway, which in previous years claimed the lives of civilians due to Taliban mines and armed conflicts with the forces of the previous government, has once again become a path of death in recent months due to an increase in traffic incidents.
However, Wali Gul, a resident of Maidan Wardak province, narrowly escaped a traffic incident on this route. He says, “Asphalt roads, despite their convenience in facilitating quick travel, harbor significant drawbacks. Carelessness among drivers of large passenger vehicles poses a grave threat to people’s safety. On a recent morning trip to Kabul, a car careened directly toward our Corolla taxi, which was carrying six passengers. Our driver skillfully maneuvered the car to avoid collision, but tragically, one companion lost his life, while two others sustained injuries. Fortunately, the three of us seated in the back emerged from the incident unscathed.”
Reza, a resident of Ghazni province who travels on the Kabul-Ghazni route for personal errands, is shocked by the increase in traffic incidents on this route. Reza blames the recklessness of the drivers for the increase in traffic incidents. He says, “Rather than improving people’s lives, road reconstruction has become burdensome. Until last year, we were accustomed to road breakdowns, rough surfaces, and lack of asphalt, but now, every journey seems fraught with danger. Drivers prioritize reaching their destinations quickly without regard for people’s lives.”
On the other hand, a driver on the Kabul-Ghazni highway, speaking to the Hasht-e Subh Daily while preserving his identity, states that the main cause of these incidents is the absence of traffic signs and the presence of right-hand drive vehicles. He criticizes the Taliban, alleging that they permit the passage of right-hand drive vehicles, which are notorious for traffic incidents, to increase their revenue. He adds, “It’s true that accidents have increased, but look, in these reconstructed areas, how many traffic guidance signs are installed? None. Compared to Afghan vehicles, there are many Pakistani vehicles (right-hand drive vehicles) on the road, and 90% of the accidents involve these vehicles.”
Meanwhile, a source in the Taliban’s traffic management in Maidan Wardak province confirmed to the Hasht-e Subh Daily that in the past month, 26 traffic incidents have been recorded in the province, resulting in 15 fatalities and 22 injuries.
Sources from the Ghazni Provincial Hospital also confirmed that in the past month, victims of several traffic incidents on the Kabul-Kandahar highway, from Maidan Wardak province and Ghazni districts along the route to Kandahar province, have been transferred to this hospital.
It is worth mentioning that traffic incidents on the Kabul-Kandahar highway have increased after parts of the highway were reconstructed. Previously, this highway was destroyed due to years of Taliban-government battles and the group’s mine-laying activities. The remaining sections of this route are scheduled for reconstruction in the coming year.