Review finds speeding, poor infrastructure and traffic violations to blame for rising road deaths across province
The increasing number of road accidents in Punjab has once again raised serious concerns over public safety, road planning and traffic management. Rapid urbanization, increasing vehicle ownership, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure have contributed to a steady increase in road deaths and injuries.
A research review found that despite road development projects and traffic control measures, Punjab continues to record tens of thousands of road accidents every month. Experts cite speeding, traffic violations, rapid growth in motorcycle use, illegal parking, trespassing and a shortage of safe pedestrian facilities as the main causes.
According to Rescue 1122, more than 36,000 road accidents were reported in Punjab in January 2026, resulting in 463 deaths and more than 17,000 serious injuries. In May 2026, the province recorded more than 43,000 accidents, which left 434 dead and more than 23,000 injured.
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Although the government has not yet published a breakdown by district covering pedestrians, women, children and people with disabilities for the first seven months of 2026, rescue data and traffic experts indicate that pedestrians, motorcyclists, children and the elderly remain the most vulnerable road users.
Lahore bears the highest traffic load in the province due to its population, commercial activity and daily volume of travelers. Major roads including Canal Road, Ferozepur Road, Multan Road, Jail Road, GT Road and Main Boulevard continue to witness frequent accidents.
The investigation found that the shortage of continuous footpaths and safe pedestrian crossings remains one of the city’s biggest safety gaps. In many commercial areas, pedestrians are forced to walk alongside fast-moving traffic, while service roads intended for local access are routinely occupied by vehicles.
Aamir Mahmood, who works at Main Boulevard, Gulberg, said pedestrians face daily dangers as there are no proper sidewalks and vehicles travel at high speed. “Even service roads are frequently used by cars and motorcycles, leaving little safe space for pedestrians,” Mahmood said.
After Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Multan also record high accident rates due to population growth and increasing traffic volume.
Abdullah Malik, head of a civil society organization, said urban planning should prioritize pedestrians instead of focusing solely on widening roads for vehicles. “Safe paths, zebra crossings, signalized crossings and pedestrian bridges must become standard features of major roads,” Malik implored.
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Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122 continues to provide prompt medical assistance through its fleet of ambulances and trained rescue personnel, but experts maintain that emergency response cannot replace accident prevention.
The review found that although the Lahore Development Authority, the Metropolitan Corporation and other agencies have built pedestrian bridges and underpasses, existing facilities remain inadequate and many are poorly maintained, with damaged stairs, poor lighting and encroachments discouraging public use.
Dilawar Hussain, a resident, said The express PAkGazette that hundreds of residents risk their lives every day crossing major roads because many pedestrian bridges are inaccessible or in poor condition. Older people, women and people with disabilities often choose to cross through moving traffic rather than use unsafe bridges.
The Punjab government and traffic police have introduced e-challans, Safe City policing, public awareness campaigns, improvements in licensing system and identification of accident-prone places. However, experts say enforcement alone will not solve the problem and call for a comprehensive road safety strategy that combines better road design, stronger enforcement, better driver training and pedestrian-friendly planning.
Experts have also expressed concern about the growing use of electric scooters by minors, many of whom ride them on public roads without driver’s licenses or youth permits, increasing safety risks.
According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries remain among the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
The research concludes that Punjab’s challenge is no longer identifying the causes of road accidents, but whether policymakers will invest in safer infrastructure, stronger enforcement and long-term transportation planning to reduce the continued loss of life.
