The echoes of Dia and Rajib's names still oscillate through the hectic roads of Dhaka, acting as a haunting reminder of the 2018 bus tragedy that claimed their very young lives. A national uproar was triggered by their tragedy, with students countrywide uniting to demand justice for their peers and, more crucially, “safer roads.” Although the accused received their punishment, the demand for road safety remains questionable.
Figure: Road Accidents Number by BRTA, RSF and BJKS
The country-wide protest occurred in 2018 where there were 3,126 road accidents leading to 3,196 deaths in Bangladesh according to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). Despite protests and government initiatives, the number of accidents continued to rise even during the COVID-19 pandemic. After five years, the number stood at 5,495 accidents causing 5,024 deaths -- a 57.2% increase in deaths from 2018.
Other studies by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF) and Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) found even higher numbers of accidents, deaths, and injuries. These numbers may seem like mere statistics until they affect one personally, but the occurrence of these accidents weigh down individuals, significantly impacting their families and even the economy of our country. According to RSF, the labour force in Bangladesh lost Tk23,460 crore due to road accidents across the country. If property losses are also taken into account, the total amount would be more than 1.5% of the country's GDP in 2022.
Reasons behind the increased number of accidents
According to the projection by RSF, reckless driving is the cause of 82% of traffic accidents in 2022. The tendency to overtake and compete among the drivers causes many of these accidents. Vehicle defects and poor road conditions only exacerbate the situation. According to BRTA, 72% of vehicles lack fitness clearance posing an imminent risk.
The situation is worsened by the proliferation of unauthorized vehicles. Additionally, a significant number of road users lack awareness of basic safety measures, contributing to the perilous environment.
Enforcement is still inadequate despite the Road Transport Act 2018's severe penalties -- five-year term and/or a fine of Tk5,00,000 for drivers responsible for a traffic death. Yet, a number of the act's provisions were never put into effect. Furthermore, the 111 recommendations provided by a committee chaired by former minister and transportation leader Shajahan Khan in April 2019 have not made any appreciable progress towards execution. This negligence promotes careless driving. Reducing traffic accidents is impossible without laws being properly implemented.
What can be done?
The government has invested in several noteworthy transportation megaprojects, but they have not eliminated the factors on roads that make them the deadliest. Sustained efforts to address the root causes of accidents must be complemented while investing in these megaprojects.
It's time to take responsibility and implement effective measures to eliminate negligence on our roads. The measures include improved engineering designs, improved signage, marking, pedestrian facilities, speed enforcement, and emergency treatment, with the aim of lowering the number of road traffic fatalities.
The law must be put into practice and provide examples for others to follow, including the 111 recommendations -- which include more stringent licensing requirements and vehicle fitness inspections. Along with applying penalties, unlicensed drivers must be taken off the roads. Drivers must hold a valid license, drive carefully, and have proper training.
Technology intervention has a big role to play here. Adopting vehicle monitoring technologies, speed enforcement cameras, and smart traffic signals can help prevent careless driving, detect violations and crashes, and expedite emergency response times through a database system.
Along with improved roadways and skilled drivers, we need fit vehicles. A study by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) reveals that 10% of traffic accidents are caused by flaws in traffic vehicles. It is time to eliminate those vehicles that are not appropriate for plying on the roads.
Public awareness is also essential. It is recommended that individuals abide by traffic regulations and not refrain from filing complaints against any kind of violence including driving carelessly, exceeding the speed limit, or violating traffic signals.
Another important segment is the post-crash measures which can curb the fatalities caused by road accidents. Rapid access to medical facilities is crucial after traffic accidents to save lives. Additionally, it is imperative to identify the crash areas and analyze accident data after an incident to eliminate those factors to prevent future crashes.
Prioritizing road safety in national policy is a prerequisite for long-term development. Bangladesh has much to gain from the 45 UN member countries’ examples whose road accident fatalities were reduced by over 30% in the 2011-2020 period.
Recently, the Bangladesh government launched its first-ever dedicated road safety project in South Asia, “The Bangladesh Road Safety Project (BRSP)” backed with $358 million funds from the World Bank. This project will improve the safety of 5,000 kilometers of roadways in selected cities. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, Bangladesh Police, the Directorate General of Health Services, and the Roads and Highways Department of the Government of Bangladesh.
Every loss of life on the road is a somber reminder of our collective failure. We can no longer make excuses. Let's rewrite the story of Bangladesh's roads, where accountability takes the place of recklessness, awareness displaces negligence, and regulation assures that every travel peaceful, not a gamble.
Nafisa Binte Farid Prova is a Research Associate, Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM).
