A recent survey by the Road Safety Foundation says that in contrast to the high rate of accidents at dawn, the number of accidents has seen a rise at night.
The survey informs that last year, 41.56% of all accidents took place at night.
There were several reasons given for this, and all of them are valid. However, as a regular driver on Dhaka roads since 1988, I feel that certain factors need to be given more importance to bring down accidents and prevent loss of lives and grave injuries.
The empty road temptation
A long time ago, in the early 80s, I learned the most important lesson about road safety: Always be extra cautious on an empty road.
That lesson, in my opinion, is the most crucial for all road users because the natural tendency is to press on the gas when the road ahead is open.
When we are lured by that free road ahead, we do exactly what we’re not supposed to do -- we throw caution to the wind and are overtaken by the “fast and furious” impulse.
The saddest part is this tendency to test the car or bike to the limit is seen mostly among professional drivers who are supposed to avoid it at all cost.
Speaking about the empty road peril, Alam, a retired driver, says: “There are several dangers on an empty road. Firstly, any other vehicle using that road or a side road leading to the main road may feel the same urge to accelerate which causes an accident.
“Secondly, street dwellers or destitutes living by the road take advantage of late night clear roads to either sleep or to cross roads. Thus, a speeding vehicle which fails to stop at the right time can cause death.
“The third point is the failure of the driver or rider to control the vehicle once it has gone past a certain speed.”
The other danger is the placement of construction materials or any other object on a road about which the driver is not aware or forewarned, he added.
Referring to losing control, he referred to several such accidents on 300 feet road where drivers often take their vehicles for the “gone in sixty seconds” challenge.
A midnight Uber driver, Sharafat, underlines the need for special attention after late hours because of the usage of Dhaka roads by big vehicles, mainly trucks.
He observes: “When faced with large truck convoys, bikers and drivers often become impatient, trying to slalom through the truck lane, thus increasing the risk. If a bike slips, the biker is directly in the line of a big vehicle.”
Absence of traffic personnel
After midnight, traffic policemen are not on duty, which only heightens the risk because no one wants to adhere to the rules.
This is exactly why gridlocks take place at important intersections where trucks, bikes, cars, and other vehicles get entangled, remarks Sharafat, adding: “After coming out of such an entanglement, the immediate urge is to accelerate and leave the jam as quickly as possible which again compounds the danger.”
Veritable death traps are the exit lanes of flyovers where countless bike accidents take place at night as bikers descend at great speed.
After midnight, bikers casually take off the mandatory helmet since no one is there to enforce the laws, putting them at greater risk of death or fatal injury.
Absence of adequate signs, warning of hazards or danger is a key factor for accidents, comments Bashir, a biker who supplements his income with ride sharing services.
“I always ride slow but even then fell into a ditch on a rainy night because there was no warning sign.Even a makeshift sign with a red cloth or a broken twig placed on the hole or ditch can work to warn riders and drivers.”
Many urban designers feel that if certain roads are made off limits to large vehicles, accidents can be avoided.
Dhaka University does not allow any large lorries to use its campus roads at night, which has reduced accidents considerably, said Rakibul, a campus resident.
As a result, people can also come out at night for a walk or a jog, he added.
With Ramadan less than a month away, attention also needs to be paid to rash driving, especially near the time of iftar.
About 15 minutes before iftar, the traffic personnel on duty become busy with breaking their fast, leaving the signals virtually unguarded, lamented Sumon, a biker.
“The cars and bikes on the road take advantage of this and flout signals to rush back home as fast as possible, thus increasing risks of accidents.”
Ignoring drunk driving
While admission to driving under the influence of alcohol is rare, the truth remains, in a city with around 50 licensed bars, the matter of drunk driving needs to be discussed openly.
The problem with society is that in our desperation to ignore the presence of bars and a rising drinking culture, we are complicit in allowing drunk driving accidents to slowly rise.
Shedding this pseudo puritanical façade, let’s carry out safety campaigns at all the spots where alcohol is sold or served, said Mazhar Islam, a journalist.
Echoing his sentiment, Zahirul Mamoon, another journalist, says: “Slick campaigns aimed at reducing drunk driving can be funded both by institutions working for road safety and other consumer product manufacturers as part of CSR.”
Overcoming outdated social conventions, we must address a scourge which is insidiously harming society, reflects Mamoon.
As for safety, he points to the inclusion of speed reducing patches at 300 feet and other major roads which have been used for un-authorised racing.
Since midnight has now become a danger period, the government, along with the respective wards of the city, can think of setting up a nighttime traffic system.
Local business organizations, banks, and other institutions can provide financial support for setting up such a service in exchange for tax benefits, branding opportunity, and other concessions.
Until that happens, the one most vital thing to keep in mind: Let’s resist the open road temptation and instead of going on an overdrive, slow down a bit and take it easy.
For Ramadan, let’s also drive carefully. No one will take away your iftar!
Towheed Feroze is a former journalist.
