Local authorities in Maidan Wardak and Ghazni provinces have reported 295 traffic accidents over the past three months, leaving 102 people dead and 402 injured, according to Tolo News.
The Kabul–Kandahar highway, a key transport route linking central and southern Afghanistan, has become increasingly dangerous due to poor road discipline and infrastructure issues.
Among the victims were 10 women and 27 children who lost their lives, while dozens more sustained serious injuries.
Officials say the main causes of the accidents in the region include reckless driving, lack of vehicle maintenance, and untrained or unlicensed drivers operating on narrow, damaged roads.
Ezatullah Saeedi, spokesperson for the Ghazni governor, said, "Unfortunately, during the past three months, 90 traffic accidents occurred in Ghazni's districts and along the Kabul-Kandahar highway. In these incidents, 58 people, including women and children, were killed and 116 others injured,” according to an ANI report.
Drivers, residents blame poor enforcement and unsafe vehicles
Local residents told Tolo News that drivers often ignore traffic rules, overtake dangerously, and drive vehicles in poor condition. Many trucks and cars are left-hand-drive, imported from Pakistan, and unsuited to Afghan roads.
The General Directorate of Traffic in Afghanistan, on this issue, has said that it has launched new checkpoints and stricter monitoring along the Kabul–Kandahar highway. It also plans to curb the import of unfit second-hand vehicles and improve public awareness about traffic safety.
Residents, however, say enforcement must go beyond temporary measures.
