No driving for over 5hrs sans break
Says PM as she suggests measures to reduce road fatalities
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday issued a set of directives to reduce the number of road accidents across the country. Hasina asked the authorities concerned to provide training to drivers and their assistants and to introduce a provision for five-hour driving time for transport drivers on highways. She also instructed them to arrange for alternative drivers in case of long-distance travels. Besides, the Prime Minister stressed the need to stop jaywalking by pedestrians to prevent road accidents. These directives came from the weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat.
At least six people died in Tangail road accidents at the time the Cabinet meeting was being held. According to Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS), at least 52 people were killed and 150 others injured in road accidents in nine districts on Saturday. Among the victims, 19 were killed in Gaibandha, six in Rangpur, five in Gopalganj, four in Dhakas Savar, three in Chattogram, two each in Natore, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Laxmipur districts, and one each in Narsingdi, Tangail, Chuadanga, Rajbari, Coxs Bazar, Narsingdi and Meherpur.
Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters after the meeting at the secretariat. The directive included setting up of roadside service centres or restrooms for drivers, strict adherence to street signals, making sure that pedestrians follow traffic signals and use zebra-crossing, and fastening of seatbelts for passengers and drivers.
Shafiul Alam said that the Prime Minister also asked three ministersthe road transport and bridges minister, the home minister and the shipping ministerto regularly sit together to supervise the implementation of the directives. He also said that the Premier stressed the immediate need to raise the effectiveness of the signalling system. The Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) secretary general Mozammel Huq Chowdhury hailed the Prime Ministers initiative in this respect.
