KABUL, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 15 others injured in three separate road accidents in northern and southern Afghanistan, local police officials reported late Friday.

In the first incident, two passenger vehicles collided head-on on Friday afternoon in the Khawaja Baba region of Shahr-e-Safa district in southern Zabul province. A provincial police official confirmed that three people died and three others were injured in the crash.

In northern Jawzjan province, 12 commuters were injured, some in critical condition, in two separate road accidents on the same day, according to the provincial police office.

Officials attributed the incidents to irresponsible driving and said all the injured passengers were transported to nearby health centers for treatment.

Road accidents are frequent in Afghanistan, often due to poor infrastructure, overloaded vehicles, and driver negligence. ■