Indeed, good roads save lives as paved and proper roads have become a fundamental need. However, in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, many deaths occur due to road accidents.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, road accidents caused 28,170 deaths in Pakistan, making up 1.93% of all deaths. The death rate, adjusted for age, is 15.18 per 100,000 people, placing Pakistan at 95th rank in the world.

Regarding Balochistan, road accidents have also caused significant losses. Balochistan has lost thousands of lives in the past few years. In the last 18 months, 12,600 road accidents occurred in various regions of Balochistan, resulting in 275 deaths and 16,000 injuries.

This issue severely affects the residents of Balochistan, especially the Baloch people, as they travel to Quetta for education, jobs, and other purposes. As the capital of Balochistan, all job tests are conducted in Quetta. Moreover, Quetta is famous for its beauty, history, culture, and weather, attracting many people from Balochistan for vacations. Unfortunately, many lose their lives on the way due to accidents.

All the blame is shifted to the relevant government as they fail to take timely action. When accidents occur, they are the first to announce relief for the affected bodies. Instead of doing so, they should inspect the roads to ensure they are safe for travel.

Apart from the government, it is also the obligation of the drivers to drive their buses carefully and adhere to speed limits to prevent accidents. They should follow traffic rules and heed road signs. They should also avoid distractions such as texting or talking on the phone while driving. The music volume must not be loud; drivers should focus solely on the road because they are responsible for several lives when traveling from one place to another.

We should remember that road safety is our responsibility because we use roads daily. Each of us has to play a part in making roads safer for everyone. Let’s unite and take serious action. Together, we can achieve everything we aim for. Let’s remember, when we are together, we can make a significant impact on road safety.