It is no wonder that people with little skill behind the wheels and with fake licenses or no licences at all are the prime cause of road accidents. On an average over a dozen people die a day on the roads of the country. But the laws are helpless in containing unlicensed drivers or awarding them tough punishment. The mayhem brought by transport workers recently made it clear that transport workers are above the laws when they get protection and license to kill people on roads from a powerful Minister of the government. While the BRTA Chairman claims that the mobile courts are successful in preventing unlicensed drivers from plying vehicles, the recent experiences show that the statement is not factually correct.
It is alleged that vehicle owners sometimes prefer inexpensive drivers and compromise on the quality of drivers. It is the responsibility of the owners of the vehicles to ensure that their vehicles are being driven by people with valid licenses and the drivers are reasonably skilled and experienced. Professional licensed drivers can be trusted for operating vehicles but the driving license obtaining system is in total chaos. If anyone tries to get a driving license, the person has to go through written, viva and road tests. But most of the professional drivers are unwilling to sit the written and viva tests as many of them are illiterate and they obtain their licenses through illegal means.
New vehicles are hitting the roads everyday but not as many drivers are getting the license and that creates an opportunity for the fake driving licenses or driving vehicles without any driving license. We suggest for easing the license obtaining system. Therefore, more driving schools need to be established in the country. As government institutions are prone to be corrupt, organisations like BRAC which initiated a driving school should be encouraged for ensuring road safety.
