Friday, October 24, 2014
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The accident on the RCD Highway at Uthal a few days ago between a coach travelling to Karachi and a truck moving in the opposite direction could so easily have been avoided. The road disaster, in which 11 people died and 30 were injured, took place because the coach carrying passengers was said to be speeding even though foggy conditions made this especially hazardous. Children were among those who perished. Such incidents have taken place before on our roads – which are ranked as among the most dangerous in the world. The failure to implement rules and regulations means that violations are commonplace. As has happened before, the accident involved the driver of a public transport vehicle. The very least we can do is to make sure that those conveying passengers from one place to another are well trained and checks made by transport companies as to their level of training and skills. In the past some have been known not even to possess a licence. In other cases, the desire to earn extra revenue by making as many journeys as possible has contributed to the problems.
The injured persons were taken to hospitals in Uthal and Hub. However, it is unclear how well equipped these centres were to cope with grave injury. It is also true that we need improvement in our rescue services and in trauma care. The fact that this does not exist means that lives are put at greater risk after a calamity. The traffic department and other authorities involved should focus on ensuring that services are available to rescue people. The way things stand now ambulances frequently arrive too late, few are familiar with even the basics of first aid and how this could save lives. The ability to administer initial care should be made mandatory for all drivers of passenger vehicles. This is a tall task, but one that has to be undertaken.
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