In Herat, the transport of passengers on motorcycles has increased, and along with it, public concerns about traffic accidents have also risen.
According to residents, during the Eid nights, due to a shortage of urban transport, many people use motorcycles for commuting. However, not following traffic rules and careless driving are leading to an increase in accidents.
Herat resident Ghulam Rasool said: “People are forced to use motorcycles due to their problems. There are no jobs, everything is expensive, and fares are high. That’s why people travel by motorcycle.”
Another resident, Gul Ahmad, said: “Many motorcycles do not have license plates and drivers do not follow traffic rules. There is even the concern that motorcycle riders may rob or kidnap you.”
On the other hand, motorcycle drivers say they are (forced) to carry passengers in the city due to unemployment and the need to earn a living for their families.
They say they would stop doing this work if other job opportunities were available.
Motorcycle driver Ahmad Shafiq said: “I also carried passengers on a motorcycle for ten years in Iran. Now here in Herat I do all kinds of work—carrying passengers, masonry, and labor—because there is unemployment and no business.”
Motorcycle driver Abdul Karim said: “I brought out this motorcycle out of necessity to carry passengers. It doesn’t earn much, but I still make 100 to 200 Afghanis.”
Motorcycle driver Abdul Sattar said: “Due to unemployment and hardships, I started working on this motorcycle. I am a plaster worker, but there is no work, so I began transporting passengers.”
On the other hand, local authorities in Herat say that transporting passengers by any private means other than taxis and public buses is prohibited in the city, and they warn of strict action against violators.
The head of Herat traffic police, Sher Mohammad Hijazi, said: “Only taxis and public buses should carry passengers in the city. We do not even allow private vehicles to transport passengers. We take legal action against those private vehicle owners and motorcycle riders who carry passengers in the city. We confiscate their vehicles, and they will have no right to complain.”
This situation comes as the transport of passengers by motorcycles has increased in Herat, while earlier a ban was imposed on rickshaws on the central and several other roads of the city.
