Out-of-control road accidents
The Entire transport and communications system is visibly breaking down
Claiming at least 12,000 lives on average while injuring some 35,000 annually, road accidents in Bangladesh has always been out of control. Ranging from poor condition of roads, pitiable state of trafficking, reckless driving to deliberately breaking traffic laws all have increased at an alarming rate. In terms of, applying up-to-date technologies the road transport ministers pledge in 2015 to introduce speed governor seal on highways is yet on the air; usage of speed guns and automated traffic signalling is missing in most of our main roads. Additionally, our traffic sergeants in big cities and highway police are terribly underperformed.
To sum it up the entire transport and communications system is visibly breaking down. No way can the concerned authorities prevent the shocking rate of road accidents.
It is learned from the Road Safety Cell (RSC) of the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) that the Annual Fatality Rate due to road accidents in Bangladesh now stands at approximately 85.6 per 10,000 vehicles comparing to rates of below 3 per 10,000 vehicles in most developed countries. Taking stock of the situation, we are more than shocked that, as of yet, little is being done to improve this perilous state.
We call for an immediate overhauling of the entire traffic management system. Surely it will not materialise overnight, but the beginning should commence right away. Moreover, flaws and weaknesses within our transport and communication system are all rampant and many times talked-over, and its now or never should we address them.
In order to pin down the major causes of accidents, concerned authorities should start installing close-circuit cameras for monitoring both the cause and quality of trafficking. Similarly, use of speed guns and conveniently-built speed governors seal for all vehicles must become operable the soonest. Speed monitoring cameras for measuring speed of vehicles can also be an effective deterrent for penalising culprits.
Understandably enough, the government and its concerned ministries are not enough to bring about the change. We expect all responsible citizens and regular commuters in our roads to collectively address the much aching curse of manmade road disasters. If necessary, the government should immediately begin to consult foreign experts besides working harder to transfer technologies and knowhow to prevent undesired and unanticipated number of road accidents.
We believe enough have been discussed and written to address this key dilemma strategically and effectively. Since the outcome is so far negligibledespite HC rulings and ministerial pledgeswe now draw the urgent attention of the highest authority within the corridors of power.
That said, every accident is a reminder of unaddressed dangers laid bare in our roads. We must stop playing with them.
