It is worrying to note that road traffic accidents in six districts of the country have left 13 people dead and at least 45 others injured on the second day of the Eid ul-Azha holidays. All the mishaps in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Dhaka, Chittagong, Jhalakathi and Sirajganj took place between morning and afternoon on Wednesday. As a matter of fact, road accident has become a formidable national problem recently. Hardly a day passes without a road accident in the country. According to sources at least 8,642 people were killed and 21,855 others injured in around 6,581 road accidents that occurred across the country in 2015.  
Operation of unfit buses, overloading of buses, unskilled drivers in the steering wheels, reckless driving, violation of traffic rules and pitiable conditions of roads and highways are some of the reasons behind the road accidents in the country. There are some dangerous turns where road mishaps usually occur. Drivers cannot control vehicles on those turns and accidents take place. Alertness by drivers can avert many an accident.
Many drivers drive vehicles without driving license; they care little about traffic rules. In some cases, helpers of buses sit on the steering wheels and drive buses. Traffic jam is also responsible for road accidents. There are drivers who become impatient after being caught in a traffic jam. For covering the distance within the limited time they resort to rash driving. This often leads to accidents. All these are occurring under the nose of the members of the law enforcement agencies, particularly the highway police. If the only earning member of a family dies or becomes disabled in a road accident the entire family has to suffer.     
Though it is difficult to stop road accidents totally, it is possible to reduce them. The authorities concerned should find out the causes of road accidents and act accordingly. Concerted efforts of all can help minimize road accidents. The drivers of buses and other vehicles should undergo adequate training for gaining skills to avert accidents. The errant drivers should be brought under discipline. In almost all the cases of road accidents the drivers of the vehicles escape unhurt. If they are arrested, they soon get released on bail.
A few years ago, death sentence was promulgated for drivers responsible for killing people. But under the pressure of the trade union leaders the order was withdrawn. It is high time for the relevant authorities to rein in the errant drivers. The highway police should also play their due roles in minimising road accidents.