Amid a rise in traffic accidents in Afghanistan, at least 26 people have been killed and 86 others injured in the past week alone. The figures are linked to nine traffic incidents that occurred between 5 and 11 July (15 to 21 Saratan in the Afghan solar calendar) across eight provinces of the country.
A review of the recorded incidents shows that the provinces of Zabul, Samangan, Helmand, Nangarhar, Panjshir, Nuristan, Faryab, and Ghazni witnessed deadly traffic accidents during this period. Most of these incidents occurred on major highways and heavily travelled routes.
In the latest incident, a passenger vehicle (Toyota 580) overturned on Sunday in Gilan District of Ghazni Province. The accident left three people dead and injured 26 others.
In Shahjoy District of Zabul Province, the overturning of a passenger vehicle on the Kabul–Kandahar highway claimed the life of one person and injured 28 others. Reports indicate that women and children were among those injured in the incident.
In Samangan Province, a collision between a passenger vehicle (Toyota 580) and a cargo truck on the Kabul–Mazar-e-Sharif route resulted in the death of one person and injuries to nine others.
Separate incidents in the provinces of Helmand, Nangarhar, Panjshir, Nuristan, and Faryab also resulted in several deaths and injuries. In one incident in Faryab Province, security forces discovered 19 livestock, reportedly stolen, during an inspection of a vehicle and arrested the driver.
The increasing number of traffic accidents in recent months has raised concerns over road safety in Afghanistan. Statistics indicate that since the beginning of the current solar year, more than 100 traffic incidents have been recorded in various provinces, resulting in dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Experts identify excessive speed, driver negligence, aging vehicles, and poor road conditions as the main factors contributing to the rise in traffic accidents. The Kabul–Herat, Kabul–Jalalabad, Kabul–Kandahar, and Kabul–Mazar-e-Sharif highways remain among the routes with the highest number of recorded traffic incidents.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
