GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): At least 32 traffic accidents have occurred along the Kabul–Kandahar highway passing through southern Ghazni province over the past three months, leaving around 100 people dead or injured, officials and residents said.

Local residents have urged the government to take effective measures to prevent such incidents, which have become alarmingly frequent.

In a statement, the provincial police headquarters said that eight traffic accidents were recorded in the past three days alone, resulting in four deaths and 10 injuries.

Residents' concern

Ahmadzai Sherzai, a resident of Qarabagh district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that hardly a day passes without a traffic accident on the Kabul–Kandahar highway, whether in Ghazni city, the provincial capital, or its surrounding districts.

He blamed reckless driving, overspeeding, the use of old or right-hand drive vehicles, narrow roads and disregard for traffic laws as the main causes of accidents.

Sherzai suggested that establishing a well-organized traffic control system and deploying professional traffic police on major highways could significantly reduce such incidents.

Another resident, Iqbal Fayazi, said many inexperienced drivers who are unfamiliar with highway driving operate vehicles along the route.

“The increase in road accidents is mainly because most drivers are untrained, lack driving licences and have never studied traffic rules and regulations,” he said.

Fayazi emphasized that driving on national highways requires skilled and experienced drivers who are knowledgeable about traffic laws.

Social activist Juma Turkee also urged traffic officials to strengthen the monitoring of drivers to reduce accidents and prevent unqualified individuals from operating vehicles.

He added that the absence of traffic police, poor control over vehicle speed, traffic congestion, lack of road signs and substandard roads have all contributed to the rise in accidents.

Traffic officials in Ghazni confirmed the increase in road accidents, attributing it mainly to driver negligence and failure to follow traffic regulations.

Qari Noor Mohammad Rahbar, director of traffic in Ghazni, told Pajhwok that most fatal accidents occurred on highways, while those within cities or districts resulted in fewer casualties.

He noted that the majority of accidents happened along the Kabul–Kandahar highway, which largely passes through Ghazni province.

Rahbar said that public awareness campaigns had been expanded and that around 6,000 people recently graduated from traffic training courses and received driving licences.

“These efforts will help reduce accident rates,” he said, adding that authorities plan to review and enhance road safety measures.

According to official figures, at least 32 traffic accidents occurred along the Kabul–Kandahar highway in Ghazni province over the past two to three months, resulting in around 100 casualties among passengers and local residents.

On August 26, at least 25 people were killed and 27 others injured when a passenger bus overturned in the Arghandi area of Paghman district, Kabul.

Following the incident, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) convened an emergency meeting and decided that passenger vehicles violating traffic regulations would be stopped. Kabul police were instructed to take strict action against violators.

kk/sa

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