IT should be a matter of concern for the relevant authorities that the number of road accidents, casualties and injuries increased in Punjab in 2025 as compared to 2024 despite efforts made by the provincial government to ensure safety on roads. The data released by the emergency service Rescue 1122 shows road traffic crashes (RTCs) across Punjab have claimed 4,791 lives in 2025 so far, marking a sharp 19 per cent increase in fatalities compared to the previous year. A total of 482,870 road traffic accidents were reported during 2025, resulting in injuries to nearly 570,000 people. In comparison, 467,561 accidents were recorded in 2024, which led to 4,139 deaths, while 420,387 crashes in 2023 claimed 3,967 lives.
Punjab introduced the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025 with stricter rules, electronic ticketing and a points-based license system (suspension at 20 points/year) for violations like speeding, signal running, overloading and tinted windows, alongside mandatory front-seat seatbelts and penalties including jail time for some offences aimed at road safety. These reforms have the potential to improve the safety situation on roads but regrettably these are being opposed by transporters and some pressure groups, forcing the authorities to take a lenient view of some aspects of new regulations. This amounts to giving license to kill as the provincial government did in the case of kite-flying. Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer has pointed out that more than 75% of fatal accidents involved motorcycles, underscoring the vulnerability of two-wheeler riders. There is an urgent need to listen to his recommendation about reducing motorcycle speeds to 50 kilometres per hour, which alone could significantly lower the number of injuries and deaths as every increase of one kilometre per hour raises the risk of a fatal accident by 4 to 5%. Similarly, the data shows pedestrians were affected in 10.34% of road accidents, highlighting the risks faced by those walking on or near busy roads. Therefore, footpaths should be a must feature of all roads in urban areas and population centres besides ensuring fitness of vehicles as most of the accidents are caused by unchecked or unattended mechanical faults.