Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, is witnessing a worrying trend in traffic accidents, with motorcyclists making up 57 percent of the victims.
During an interview with a private news channel, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic Police Karachi, Ahmed Nawaz Cheema, revealed that over 500 road accidents were reported in the city up to December 15, 2024, resulting in 525 deaths, and a majority of those killed were motorcyclists.
He stated that most motorcyclist deaths occur due to collisions with heavy vehicles such as dumpers, explaining that many motorcyclists are involved in accidents while attempting to overtake or pass heavy vehicles too closely.
As per DIG, the highest number of accidents occurs along routes heavily used by industrial traffic, including those connected to Karachi Port and Port Qasim, along with the other industrial zones in Landhi, Korangi, and the Northern Bypass, which see a high volume of heavy vehicles, contributing to frequent accidents, especially due to carelessness of the motorcyclists.
READ: Karachi: Nine killed in road accidents over past 48 hours
He also mentioned that 25 percent of the fatalities occur when pedestrians or motorcyclists are hit while crossing the road.
The in charge of the traffic police post near Karachi Port noted that around 12,000 to 14,000 trucks, containers, and trawlers leave the port daily, mentioning that many motorcyclists ignore safety precautions, such as wearing helmets or carrying licenses, which exacerbates the risk of accidents.
With over 6.5 million vehicles registered in Karachi, including 4.2 million motorcycles, the city faces an increasing risk as an estimated three to three and a half million new vehicles are added annually.
Source: The Independent Urdu
