For safer roads

While road traffic fatalities do raise commotion, they have so far hardly lead to any comprehensive or sustained actions by the authorities

According to a recent report published in a vernacular daily as many as 184 people were killed and scores injured in road accidents during the Eid holiday season. Experts attribute these accidents mostly to vehicles without fitness certificates and route permits. According to official reports, approximately 10,000 road fatalities occur every year in Bangladesh. But the World Health Organization estimates that there are as many as 20,000.
Quite alarmingly, Bangladesh has the second highest number of deaths per 10,000 vehicles in the countries of Asia, Europe and Australia. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 400,000 people are injured every year and the country loses an estimated 1.2 billion pounds due to road accidents per year, equivalent to 2 per cent of the GDP. For a developing country like Bangladesh, allowing its citizen to perish in road accidents is not only tragic but unacceptable.
Though the length and width of highways has remained virtually unchanged for the last two decades, the number of vehicles has gone up to 1.5 million from 0.4 million in the last 10 years, contributing to so many accidents. Drivers after being stuck in congestion often indulge in reckless driving to make up the lost time. A high growth in urbanisation and motorisation can also be identified as one of the factors leading to the increasing number of road accidents. The road systems are experiencing greater congestion, physical deterioration and safety problems.
Law enforcement personnel do sometimes get hold of the errant drivers, but in most cases, they let them go scot-free after having their palms greased. What is worse, while road traffic fatalities do raise commotion, they have so far hardly lead to any comprehensive or sustained actions by the authorities. It is most likely that the tragedies that occurred on the highways during the Eid season would be forgotten soon, without prompting any effective actions from the authorities.
As per Section 304(B) of the Penal Code, killing a person due to reckless driving is a bailable offence and the highest punishment for it is a three-year jail term or fine or both. This is hardly enough to deter reckless driving. There is a government body titled Road Safety Council which is headed by the communication minister. But in the last several years the council met only once.
In order to ensure safe highways owners of vehicles must ensure that employed drivers have genuine licenses, are properly trained and drive responsibly.

For safer roads

While road traffic fatalities do raise commotion, they have so far hardly lead to any comprehensive or sustained actions by the authorities

According to a recent report published in a vernacular daily as many as 184 people were killed and scores injured in road accidents during the Eid holiday season. Experts attribute these accidents mostly to vehicles without fitness certificates and route permits. According to official reports, approximately 10,000 road fatalities occur every year in Bangladesh. But the World Health Organization estimates that there are as many as 20,000. Quite alarmingly, Bangladesh has the second highest number of deaths per 10,000 vehicles in the countries of Asia, Europe and Australia. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 400,000 people are injured every year and the country loses an estimated 1.2 billion pounds due to road accidents per year, equivalent to 2 per cent of the GDP. For a developing country like Bangladesh, allowing its citizen to perish in road accidents is not only tragic but unacceptable. Though the length and width of highways has remained virtually unchanged for the last two decades, the number of vehicles has gone up to 1.5 million from 0.4 million in the last 10 years, contributing to so many accidents. Drivers after being stuck in congestion often indulge in reckless driving to make up the lost time. A high growth in urbanisation and motorisation can also be identified as one of the factors leading to the increasing number of road accidents. The road systems are experiencing greater congestion, physical deterioration and safety problems. Law enforcement personnel do sometimes get hold of the errant drivers, but in most cases, they let them go scot-free after having their palms greased. What is worse, while road traffic fatalities do raise commotion, they have so far hardly lead to any comprehensive or sustained actions by the authorities. It is most likely that the tragedies that occurred on the highways during the Eid season would be forgotten soon, without prompting any effective actions from the authorities. As per Section 304(B) of the Penal Code, killing a person due to reckless driving is a bailable offence and the highest punishment for it is a three-year jail term or fine or both. This is hardly enough to deter reckless driving. There is a government body titled Road Safety Council which is headed by the communication minister. But in the last several years the council met only once. In order to ensure safe highways owners of vehicles must ensure that employed drivers have genuine licenses, are properly trained and drive responsibly.