Pir Panjal Roads: A Growing Safety Crisis _Overloading, Rash Driving and Traffic Violations Put Lives at Risk_

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

BY ZAID SHAH 

RAJOURI AUGUST 20:The growing number of road accidents across the Pir Panjal region has emerged as a serious public safety concern. In mountainous terrain marked by sharp curves, steep slopes and narrow stretches, driving demands patience, skill and a high degree of responsibility. Yet rash driving, speeding, overloading and frequent violations of traffic regulations continue to put the lives of commuters at risk.

For the people of Pir Panjal, roads are more than just a means of transportation. They are lifelines connecting villages and remote areas with towns and district headquarters. Students travel on them to attend schools and colleges, employees depend on them to reach their workplaces, traders use them for business, and patients often have no alternative but to travel long distances for medical treatment.

In such circumstances, the safety of passengers cannot be treated as a secondary concern.

One of the most worrying practices is the overloading of passenger vehicles. Vehicles carrying passengers beyond their permitted capacity are often seen on several routes. What may appear to be an additional source of income for a driver or transporter can have serious consequences for those travelling inside the vehicle.

On mountainous roads, an overloaded vehicle is more difficult to control, particularly while negotiating sharp turns, steep gradients or sudden road obstructions. In the event of an accident, the presence of excess passengers can further increase the scale of casualties.

The issue also requires greater awareness among passengers. Limited public transport, long waiting times and the fear of not finding another vehicle often compel people to board overloaded vehicles. But accepting an unsafe journey merely for the sake of reaching a destination quickly can carry a heavy price.

Passengers must understand that refusing to travel in an overloaded vehicle or one being driven dangerously is not only their right but also their responsibility towards their own safety. Greater public awareness can gradually create pressure on transport operators to follow safety norms.

Rash driving is another major concern. Speeding, dangerous overtaking at blind curves, unnecessary competition between passenger vehicles and the use of mobile phones while driving can turn a routine journey into a tragedy within seconds.

Mountain roads leave little room for error. A moment of distraction or a few extra kilometres per hour can mean the difference between reaching home safely and losing a life.

A driver carrying passengers has a responsibility far greater than simply operating a vehicle. Every passenger sitting behind the driver has placed his or her safety in the driver’s hands. This responsibility demands discipline, patience and strict adherence to traffic rules.

At the same time, it would be unfair to place the entire responsibility for road accidents on drivers. The concerned authorities also have an important role to play. Regular checking of passenger vehicles, verification of vehicle fitness, enforcement against overloading, monitoring of dangerous driving and strict action against repeated violations are essential components of an effective road-safety system.

Enforcement, however, must not be limited to occasional checking drives after a major accident. Traffic regulations can only serve their purpose when they are implemented consistently and without discrimination.

The condition of roads is another important aspect of the problem. Several stretches in mountainous areas require better safety infrastructure, including crash barriers, protective railings, warning signs, road markings and proper drainage. Accident-prone locations should be identified and examined regularly so that preventive measures can be taken before another tragedy occurs.

A road stretch where accidents repeatedly take place should not simply be described as “dangerous” and forgotten. Repeated accidents are an indication that something needs to be examined—whether it is road design, visibility, drainage, signage, vehicle movement or driver behaviour.

The administration must therefore adopt a preventive approach rather than responding only after lives have been lost.

There is also a need to change the way road accidents are perceived. Too often, accidents are dismissed as unfortunate incidents or attributed entirely to fate. While circumstances can sometimes be unpredictable, many road accidents are preventable.

If speeding, overloading, reckless overtaking, poor vehicle maintenance or inadequate road-safety measures contribute to an accident, the incident should not simply be described as an act of fate. Its causes must be examined and responsibility must be fixed.

Every accident should provide an opportunity to identify weaknesses in the road-safety system and correct them.

The government and concerned departments need to formulate a comprehensive road-safety strategy for the Pir Panjal region. Such a strategy should include regular driver training, strict vehicle fitness checks, effective action against overloading, improved road infrastructure and stronger enforcement of traffic regulations.

At the same time, transport operators must recognise that commercial interests cannot take precedence over human lives. Earning an additional fare by carrying an extra passenger is never worth the risk of losing a life.

Drivers, too, must realise that safe driving is not merely a legal obligation but a moral responsibility. A few minutes saved by speeding or dangerous overtaking can never justify the risk to passengers and other road users.

The public also has a role to play. Citizens should report serious violations, avoid travelling in overloaded vehicles and encourage responsible driving practices. Road safety cannot be ensured by one department alone. It requires cooperation between the administration, traffic police, transporters, drivers and the public.

Most importantly, there must be accountability.

Whenever a serious accident occurs, the focus should not end with rescue operations and compensation. Authorities must also examine what caused the accident and whether it could have been prevented. If negligence is established, appropriate action should follow.

The people of Pir Panjal have the same right to safe and reliable transportation as people living in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Difficult terrain cannot be used as an excuse for weak enforcement or inadequate safety measures.

The growing number of accidents should therefore be treated as a warning. The objective should not merely be to respond to tragedies but to prevent them.

Roads are meant to connect people, facilitate economic activity and provide access to education, healthcare and employment. They should not become places where preventable mistakes cost people their lives.

The time has come for all stakeholders to recognise the seriousness of the issue. Overloading must be stopped, reckless driving must be dealt with firmly, unsafe vehicles must be taken off the roads and accident-prone stretches must receive immediate attention.

Human life must remain the first priority.

For the people of Pir Panjal, safe roads are not a luxury. They are a basic necessity—and ensuring that safety is a responsibility that cannot be postponed.