Review finds speeding, poor infrastructure and traffic violations behind rising road deaths across province
The growing number of traffic accidents in Punjab has once again raised serious concerns over public safety, road planning and traffic management. Rapid urbanisation, rising vehicle ownership and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure have contributed to a steady increase in road fatalities and injuries.
An investigative review found that despite road development projects and traffic enforcement measures, Punjab continues to record tens of thousands of traffic accidents every month. Experts cite speeding, traffic violations, the rapid growth in motorcycle use, illegal parking, encroachments and the shortage of safe pedestrian facilities as the principal causes.
According to Rescue 1122, more than 36,000 road traffic accidents were reported across Punjab in January 2026, resulting in 463 deaths and over 17,000 serious injuries. In May 2026, the province recorded more than 43,000 accidents, leaving 434 people dead and over 23,000 injured.
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Although the government has yet to release a district-wise breakdown covering pedestrians, women, children and persons with disabilities for the first seven months of 2026, rescue data and traffic experts indicate that pedestrians, motorcyclists, children and elderly citizens remain the most vulnerable road users.
Lahore bears the province’s heaviest traffic burden because of its population, commercial activity and daily commuter volume. 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 on Main Boulevard, Gulberg, said pedestrians face daily danger because there are no proper sidewalks and vehicles travel at high speed. “Even the service roads are frequently used by cars and motorcycles, leaving little safe space for people on foot,” Mahmood said.
After Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Multan also report high accident rates due to growing populations and increasing traffic volumes.
Abdullah Malik, head of a civil society organisation, said urban planning should prioritise pedestrians instead of focusing solely on expanding roads for vehicles. “Safe footpaths, zebra crossings, signalised crossings and pedestrian bridges must become standard features of major roads,” implored Malik.
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Punjab Emergency Service Rescue 1122 continues to provide rapid medical assistance through its ambulance fleet and trained rescue personnel, but experts argue that emergency response cannot substitute for accident prevention.
The review found that although the Lahore Development Authority, the Metropolitan Corporation and other agencies have constructed foot-over bridges and underpasses, existing facilities remain inadequate, and many are poorly maintained, with damaged staircases, poor lighting and encroachments discouraging public use.
Dilawar Hussain, a resident, told The Express Tribune that hundreds of residents risk their lives every day while crossing major roads because many pedestrian bridges are either inaccessible or in poor condition. Elderly people, women and persons with disabilities often choose to cross through moving traffic rather than use unsafe bridges.
The Punjab government and traffic police have introduced electronic challans, Safe City surveillance, public awareness campaigns, improvements to the licensing system and the identification of accident-prone locations. However, experts say enforcement alone will not solve the problem and call for a comprehensive road safety strategy combining better road design, stricter enforcement, improved driver training and pedestrian-friendly planning.
Experts have also expressed concern over the growing use of electric scooters by underage riders, many of whom operate them on public roads without driving licences or juvenile permits, adding to safety risks.
According to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries remain among the leading causes of death worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The investigation 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 transport planning to reduce the continuing loss of life.
