Former Vice President Faisal Naseem has stated that the government must undertake robust and effective efforts to prevent road accidents.

In a post on Facebook, Faisal remarked that following every accident, it has become commonplace to hear rhetoric about investigating how the incident occurred, establishing an office to oversee such issues, or amending legislation.

Instead, Faisal stated that concrete measures must be implemented to prevent accidents, calling on the government to launch an immediate nationwide campaign.

Faisal outlined a series of key actions the government should pursue to curb accidents:

  • Launch an immediate nationwide campaign focused on "Safety for All - Road Safety and Security."
  • Rectify road hazards such as speed breakers and elevated manhole covers, and install warning lights at zebra crossings in high-pedestrian areas.
  • Permanently implement and enforce speed management measures, identifying this as the single most critical factor in averting hazardous incidents.
  • Designate specific passenger pickup and drop-off zones along roadways and normalize their proper use.
  • Ensure driving licenses are issued only after verifying that applicants have thoroughly learned and understood driving rules and regulations.
  • Design roads and traffic regulations tailored to vehicle types and traffic density to ensure universal safety.
  • Initiate long-term collaborative efforts involving police, taxi centers, motorists, schools, civil society organizations, and workplaces to uphold road safety and security.
  • Enact decisive penalties against motorists driving with blatant disregard for their own lives and the lives of others to deter repeat offenses.

Faisal urged the government to prioritize these measures and devote greater attention to initiatives directly benefiting public well-being.

His remarks follow multiple serious accidents this week. Nine-year-old Zeeva Sinan Ahmed passed away after sustaining severe injuries in an accident near Vinares Tower 7 on Hithigas Magu in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Saturday night around 9:04 PM. Additionally, in another collision in Hulhumalé Phase 2 on Monday involving a father and child, the father sustained critical injuries, leaving him with little hope of recovery.

In a post on X responding to these incidents, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu noted that raising public awareness regarding sudden, hazardous accidents on roads and in high-rise buildings is a shared national and humanitarian responsibility. He specifically highlighted the critical importance of reinforcing safety measures around windows, balconies, and railings in multi-story residential buildings.

The President called on state institutions, corporations, civil society organizations, and individual citizens to prioritize well-organized programs aimed at heightening safety awareness and securing public spaces and residential buildings.