IN the wake of scores of deaths on roads, the Prime Minister issued directives on Monday, including drive-time limitations on drivers of long-route vehicles, to prevent fatal accidents. She gave the directives at the weekly Cabinet meeting soon after learning that five people died in a crash in Tangail, as per local media reports.
While briefing reporters, Cabinet Secretary said the PM also asked for keeping reserved drivers on long-route vehicles, restricting them to a maximum of five hours drive-time at a stretch, training drivers and helpers, installing service centres or restrooms for drivers at regular intervals on highways, preventing jaywalking, making sure everyone follows traffic signals and fastens seatbelts. The PM also asked the Home, Road Transport and Bridges, and the Shipping Ministers to hold meetings regularly regarding the issue.
Increasing road accidents have now become a great social concern in Bangladesh. The annual economic wastage occasioned by accidents is estimated to be in the order of 2 to 3 percent of the GDP. Each year, there are at least 3,000 fatalities and 3,000 grievous and simple injuries from around 3,500 police reported accidents on roads. Other sources estimated the fatalities as high as from 12,000 to 20,000 per year.
As per BRTA the government has to do more to train the drivers. Besides, the highway police must check and enforce speed limits to stop the random overtaking of trucks and buses on the highways. But it isn’t just drivers who are at fault–passengers more often ask drivers to go recklessly. The pedestrians also don’t use zebra crossings or overhead walkways, preferring to play Russian rouletter by walking on the roads directly.
We think, the Traffic Department of police will have to come forward to implement law without any fear and hesitation. At the same time, the transport sector should be freed from the grip of political party-backed union leaders and musclemen. Simply giving directives won’t work.
