BUET surveys estimate that there are on average more than 12,500 deaths in road accidents taking place in Bangladesh each year.
Given this record, the government’s goal of reducing accidents by 30% in 10 years is not ambitious enough to end the appalling number of casualties that occur on our roads every day.
Poor road safety is exacerbated by reckless driving habits and an endemic lack of enforcement of basic traffic rules and regulations.
With 65% of road accidents taking place on the highways, it is essential that the fitness of our roads and drivers be tackled primarily.
Most of the steps presently being proposed by the authorities -- such as establishing “pre-hospital” treatment and trauma centres along major highways -- can, at best, serve to reduce fatalities caused by road accidents, but will not by themselves reduce the number of preventable accidents occurring.
It is undoubtedly important to take every measure to reduce casualties on freeways, but prevention is better than cure and the concerned agencies need to address the source of the problem.
The proposal to include road safety education in schools is an important step forwards. But without effective enforcement of road rules and tests for the fitness of drivers, it will be ineffective.
We urge the authorities to take road safety much more seriously. The government cannot afford to keep overlooking the need to act on such a long-standing issue. It must take responsibility for reducing the number of deaths on our roads. Failing to act now puts at risk many lives which can and must be better protected.