Traffic accidents on the increase in Kandahar city

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): Eighteen people have been killed and 953 others injured in traffic accidents during the past one month in southern Kandahar province due to reckless driving and negligence of traffic rules, hospital sources said on Thursday.

About 1000 accidents took place during the past one month alone in Kandahar city, the provincial capital.

Dr. Qudratullah Hakimi, surgical ward head at the Mirwais Hospital, told Pajhwok Afghan News that they were delivered 18 dead and 953 injured people during the past one month, calling the increasing number of accidents a matter of great concern.

He said most of the dead and wounded people were youth and teenagers and children. “Less accidents took place in the previous years about 7000 accidents a year, but if we multiply last month’s 1000 accidents with 12 months they become 12000,” he noted, urging authorities concerned to take measures in this regard.

Noor Ahmad, 20, who crashed his motorcycle with another bike, is admitted to the Mirwais hospital. “It was due to speed that we collided and we both got seriously injured,” he said. He admitted committing negligence and said if he was careful the accident would not have happened.

Another resident, Azizullah, said actually disorder had increased in Kandahar city as vehicle were parked on roadsides and no one followed traffic rules. He said many stalls owners had encroached the road and sold their goods in the middle of road.

He urged the concerned authorities to take serious steps in this regard to have an orderly and disciplined city on the one hand and reduce traffic accidents on the other.

Officials of the Kandahar Traffic Department say that most of the traffic accidents are due to carelessness, non-compliance with traffic rules and other negligence.

"People don't follow traffic rules, they don't stop at traffic signals in the city, and many parents give their children vehicles and motorcycles to drive," Col. Abdul Hamid, traffic manager, told Pajhwok Afghan News. "These are the main causes of traffic accidents."

He urges parents not to give these vehicles to their children as they threaten their own lives and the lives of others. He also noted that efforts are being made to maintain law and order in the city.

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