Road accountability
In a welcome move, the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Interior has approved an amendment to Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code, making the offence of causing death by reckless driving non-bailable. The decision, passed unanimously by the committee, comes in the wake of several high-profile road accidents, and signals a much-needed shift towards legal deterrence and public safety.
For far too long, fatal road accidents have been treated as unfortunate but inevitable misadventures. This perception has been reinforced by the fact that most drivers involved in such incidents are able to secure bail with relative ease, often walking free even before investigations are complete. Declaring the offence non-bailable serves to correct this imbalance. It sends a clear message that loss of life due to negligence will no longer be treated lightly.
Pakistan has witnessed a worrying rise in fatal road accidents, many of them attributable to speeding and poorly maintained vehicles. The situation is particularly grave on highways and urban routes where trawlers and tankers operate with little oversight. These vehicles, often unfit, pose a significant threat to both pedestrians and motorists alike. The lack of stringent regulation and weak enforcement of traffic laws has allowed this culture of impunity to flourish.
While the amendment is a step in the right direction, its success will ultimately depend on implementation. Legal provisions, no matter how well-intentioned, mean little if they are not enforced uniformly and without fear or favour. Police capacity must be strengthened and transport authorities held accountable for lack of implementation of road laws. The amendment to Section 320 is a long-overdue correction. One can only hope it marks the beginning of a broader effort to restore safety and accountability to Pakistan's roads.
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