Road traffic crashes across Punjab have claimed 4,791 lives so far in 2025, reflecting a 19 percent increase in fatalities compared to last year, according to data released by Rescue 1122.
The statistics show that 482,870 road accidents were reported during the year, injuring nearly 570,000 people. In comparison, 467,561 accidents in 2024 resulted in 4,139 deaths, while 420,387 crashes in 2023 claimed 3,967 lives.
Speaking during an annual review meeting, Emergency Services Secretary Dr Rizwan Naseer said the data pointed to growing severity in road crashes.
He noted that more than 75 percent of fatal accidents involved motorcycles and stated that reducing motorcycle speeds to 50 kilometres per hour could significantly reduce injuries and deaths. Dr Naseer warned that every one-kilometre increase in speed raises the risk of a fatal accident by four to five percent.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier this year, the Punjab government introduced a new speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour for motorcycles.
To enforce the new speed limit, the government promised strict monitoring and penalties for non-compliance. “Motorcycles will not be allowed to exceed 60 km/h,” Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said.