The Cost of Fog and Neglect 

Each winter, a deadly pattern reemerges on Pakistan’s roads. Dense fog, smog, and plummeting visibility trigger fatal crashes across highways and city arteries, but behind the headlines lies a broader challenge: aligning policy, public awareness, and enforcement with the reality of seasonal hazards.

From fiery van accidents to multi-vehicle pile-ups, these aren’t freak occurrences. They’re the result of long-standing gaps in how we prepare for and respond to winter road risks.

Nationwide, emergency services respond to thousands of road-related emergencies each year. In Punjab alone, Rescue 1122 reported 482,870 road traffic collisions in 2025, resulting in nearly 4,800 fatalities, a 19% increase compared to 2024, with hundreds of thousands more injured. 

These numbers are not just statistics, they are a stark reminder that winter road safety is a national crisis, not a seasonal inconvenience. If no structural measures are taken in 2026, from speed enforcement to vehicle fitness checks and public education the coming months could see even deadlier outcomes. 

A Deadly Season: Fatalities Across Pakistan

Between December and January, fatal fog-related incidents have surged:

• On the Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway, two people were killed and ten injured in a pile-up under heavy fog conditions. 
• On the Quetta–Taftan Highway, seven people died in a high-speed, head-on collision. 
• In Sargodha, 14 lives were lost in a truck crash caused by zero visibility. 
• Punjab’s GT Road has now become even deadlier than the motorways, as visibility plummets and emergency response struggles to keep pace.

Despite advisories and identified black spots, these tragedies persist pointing not just to gaps in driver behavior, but to the need for better coordination and consistent policy enforcement.

Fog Is Predictable — But Tragedies Don’t Have to Be

Low visibility during winter is no longer an unpredictable event. It is seasonal, measurable, and often forecast. Yet, challenges continue:

Overspeeding during fog alerts

Speed remains the most lethal factor, especially on highways where fog reduces sight distance to under 20 meters.

High-beam misuse

Contrary to driver instinct, high beams actually reflect off fog, blinding others and reducing your own vision. This misuse has become so widespread that it’s prompted temporary bans on modified headlights. 

Inadequate road design

Many roads lack cat’s eyes, edge markers, or dynamic signage to warn of upcoming hazards.

Lack of public awareness

Despite repeated alerts from motorway police and traffic authorities, education around winter driving remains dangerously low.

While enforcement of fog-related restrictions is active in many areas including lane closures, diversions, and fog-specific alerts, inconsistent compliance and public behavior often reduce their impact.

Vehicle Fires: A Growing, Overlooked Threat

Several tragic winter incidents involve vehicles catching fire after accidents or spontaneously due to internal faults.

• In Faisalabad, a van fire left seven critically burnt following a possible electrical malfunction. Tragic details
• As covered in our detailed report, common causes include faulty wiring, poor upkeep, unauthorized heaters, and illegal CNG setups.

Read full Article here: Why Car Fires Are Rising in Pakistan — Causes, Safety Tips, and Prevention

These incidents underscore the need for more robust vehicle inspections  particularly for commercial fleets and long-route transporters.

To its credit, the Punjab Transport Department has introduced new protocols for vehicle fitness certification and is piloting automated testing systems in several districts. These measures need to scale nationally to make a real dent in mechanical failure–related tragedies.

Government Response: Progress, But Gaps Remain

Winter 2025–26 has already seen multiple advisories and safety pushes:

• The Chief Minister of Punjab called for enhanced traffic enforcement amid rising fog accidents. 
• The National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) have deployed additional patrol units, activated digital fog alerts, and enforced visibility-based speed limits across key stretches.
• Motorway service areas have improved signage, designated fog-shelter zones, and are actively sharing weather alerts with travelers via FM radio and SMS.

These steps reflect a stronger institutional awareness. However, implementation remains uneven especially on provincial roads and urban peripheries where GT Road–linked accidents continue to rise.

Winter Road Safety Advisory

For drivers heading out in fog or low-visibility conditions, here’s what the NHMP and traffic experts recommend:

• Check weather and fog alerts before travel.
• Keep headlights on low beam; use fog lights if available.
• Reduce speed significantly, don’t rely on posted limits.
• Avoid using hazard lights while moving; use only when stopped.
• Maintain 4–5 seconds of distance from the vehicle ahead.
• Ensure electrical systems and heaters are inspected before winter use.

Final Takeaway

Winter fog is not a surprise and neither should be the steps needed to prevent fatalities. While the government has made progress on multiple fronts from improving motorway alerts to revamping fitness testing the true test lies in sustained enforcement and public adoption.

The cost of inaction is steep. As Pakistan is living another winter, ensuring that roads remain passable must go hand in hand with making them survivable.

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