The government has decided that all vehicles on the highways must limit their speed to 50km/h in foggy weather.
The decision was made at a meeting of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) held at the Secretariat yesterday.
The NRSC also formed a 15-member monitoring committee headed by BRTA Chairman Nazrul Islam to work against sexual harassment on public transportation. The committee will also monitor transport workers’ behaviour with female passengers.
NRSC head and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader briefed the media after the meeting.
“Drivers must limit their maximum speed to between 40 and 50km/h during fog and must use fog lights. During dense fog, they should not drive on the highways,” he said.
The minister said the guidance was being given to curb road accidents during the winter season.
“The Motor Vehicle Act will be placed in the next session of parliament and will hopefully help prevent road accidents,” he added.
The minister said: “The annual road accident death rate is lower in Bangladesh than any other South Asian country except the Maldives.”
Disputing a report by a commuter interest group, saying: “The report on road accidents recently placed by the Passengers Welfare Association of Bangladesh is not correct. In fact, the process of reporting is also erroneous.”
“We will start a training programme to build drivers’ awareness in all districts to prevent road accidents,” the minister said.
He said his ministry would construct rest areas along highways so that drivers can pull over and rest. “No driver should be allowed to work continuously for more than eight hours,” he added.
The minister also expressed hope that Dhaka’s traffic congestion would be reduced.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon and Road Transport and Highways Secretary MAN Siddique were present at the meeting.
