While we were celebrating the beautiful new number plates reflecting our culture and introducing new laws and setting up new parameters for all vehicles to follow the state of traffic on the roads remained unchanged and in fact as the latest figures reflect worsen to present horrific figures of those who perished on Karachi roads, creating tragic moments for countless families.
Do you know how many people lost their lives in just traffic accidents this year? A total of 847 people lost their lives and 11,990 were injured in traffic accidents across Karachi during 2025. These are figures, according to data released by rescue officials. Who do you think was mainly responsible for these deadly accidents? Not surprising that for a large number of these fatalities heavy duty vehicles were the culprits. As the list tells us 44 people were killed after being hit by dumpers, while trailer-related accidents claimed 99 lives. Water tankers were responsible for 60 fatalities; this makes them the deadliest vehicles on the roads of our beloved city. The list goes on: 20 people were killed in collisions involving mini-trucks, while buses were involved in accidents that led to the deaths of 33 individuals.
Death by road accidents is not unique to our country or our city. You will be surprised to know that according to the world health organization, 135 million people worldwide lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2016. This amounts to one person killed every 26 seconds on an average. Yes while there is traffic there will be accidents fatal or otherwise but unfortunately in Karachi many of these accidents can be prevented as they are prevented in other cities and countries in the world. Take the example of Canada where driving while drunk is considered a serious crime and the law enforced vigorously and without any discrimination. Police patrols are all equipped with breathalyzer kits and if they suspect the car driver to be drunk they have the powers to use required force to force the driver to take the test. If found drunk the driver is arrested right away and no pleas can save him or her. In the same vein, a car has to be mechanically and physically fit and if the police comes across any car that is damaged or its functions like indicators, etc., are not functioning, it is ordered off road right away. It happened to a close friend of mine in Ottawa, Canada, who was returning home after a night duty with a car whose bumper was a little loose and seemed about to fall off. He was stopped by the police and though he gave them all assurances that he would get it fixed first thing in the morning they did not allow him to proceed. A tow-truck was called and the car had to be towed to the nearest garage for fixing as it endangered other drivers too on the road. Is there any vigilance of this kind in Karachi? It can safely be said that 90 percent of motorcycles do not even have proper indicators to warn those behind them of their sudden moves. One does not have to thoroughly examine any vehicle on the road, especially public transport to realize that they are not safe. Brake failures are the main cause of most fatal accidents involving loss of precious lives. Brake failures do not happen suddenly and without warning. At first the brake starts slipping, meaning that it does not work just at the first push but one has to pump twice or thrice before the vehicle can stop. It is at this time and in fact at the very first hint of loose brakes that the driver should be heading for a workshop to get it fixed. Alas that does not happen and when suddenly a vehicle comes in front of a heavy vehicle it does not give it time to brake and lives are lost.
Fancy number plates with a touch of culture are great but the vehicle on which they are displayed should not become a killing machine, and that is something which has to be assured by the traffic police by a reliable system of checks that assures mechanically sound vehicles on the road driven by drivers who are not half asleep and physically sound for the job they are carrying out.
(The writer is a well-known columnist)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
The writer is a well-known columnist