Overtaking in Driving

 Written by: Muzamil Shah Watandost

According to Central Statistics Office of Afghanistan 2015 figures, about (1878000) government and private vehicles are traveling in Afghanistan and almost 4700 people die annually due to traffic accidents, most caused by carelessness and overtaking of drivers.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some drivers and people about this issue.

Hazargul, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “I a driver. Once one of my friends was overtaking a trailer on Kabul-Mazar-e-Sharif highway, meanwhile, another vehicle was coming from the other side and an accident took place. My friend lost his life due to the accident and he faced about 50 million Afghanis loss.”

Haji Faizullah, a resident of Parwan province says, “My cousin is a bus driver. Once he was coming from Herat province to Kabul city and when he wanted to overtake another bus, an accident took place. About 30 passengers wounded and died and he was about 40 days in the hospital and was not able to talk and faced about 700 thousand Afghanis loss.”

Why some drivers do not follow traffic regulations regulations?

Alamdiin Wardak says, “This is my 28th year of my driving. Once another car was overtaking my car but he was watching in his car’s back mirror and I he hit my car.”

Abdullah, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “I am driving on Laghman-Jalalabad high way. Once a Mercedes Benz was overtaking another Mercede and meanwhile, an accident took place and I was behind them and I could not control my car and also hit one of those two Mercedes.”  

How do some drivers prevent car accidents?

A driver, Hazrat Musa, a resident of Ghazni province says, “This is my 32th year of my driving and as I observer traffic regulations, I have not face any problems in this period of time. I do not overtake another car without need and I always pay attention to the life of my passengers.”

Essa Muhammad, a resident of Kandahar province says, “This is my 20th year that I drive a bus on Kabul-Herat highway. When I overtake another vehicle, I see if there is no another vehicle overtaking me or the other vehicle and I consider the space between other vehicle.”