Experts on road safety have said that operational development in policing will contribute to the reduction of road traffic deaths, injuries and associated trauma
They said this at a training workshop for officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on road safety.
As part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Initiative for Global Road Safety, an international network committed to reducing road traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries; the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) conducted this two-day training workshop at the InterContinental Dhaka. The event ended on Wednesday (July 12, 2023)
In his speech at the inaugural session on Tuesday, Russell Nyman, senior road policing advisor at GRSP of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent; said that the primary objective of the workshop is to facilitate the exchange of existing enforcement practices within a 'Safe System' model. It aims to foster discussions on challenges and opportunities to enforce traffic laws more effectively, drawing on international and national road policing strategies that led to strategic, tactical and operational developments in policing that has led to significant reductions from road death and associated trauma.
The workshop covers various topics, including current road safety trends, the role of enforcement in a 'Safe System', the significance of speed reduction, speed enforcement technology, and tactics. By equipping police officials with these insights, the training aims to contribute to the reduction of road traffic deaths and injuries.
A number of police officers from DMP, including Assistant Superintendent of Police, Traffic Inspectors, and Sergeants, participated in the workshop in two batches.
DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq inaugurated the event as the chief guest. Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Munibur Rahman and Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic South) SM Mehedi Hasan attended the workshop as special guests. Suganthi Saravanan of Vital Strategies, Md Abdul Wadud of Bloomberg Philanthropies, BIGRS’s Communication Officer Khaleda Jasmin Mithela, Transport Coordinator Md Rezaur Rahman and Surveillance Coordinator Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury also attended the event.
Speaking as the chief guest, Khandker Golam Faruq said, “Road safety is an issue of paramount importance in our society. Each day, we witness the devastating consequences of traffic accidents and the toll they take on human lives. As the DMP, it is our duty to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens. We strive to create a secure and livable city, and effective traffic law enforcement plays a vital role in achieving this goal.”
He further said, “This training workshop is a platform for us to come together, exchange knowledge, and learn from international and national road policing strategies that have proven to be successful. The GRSP and BIGRS, with their expertise and global contributions to road safety, brings invaluable insights that will undoubtedly enhance our capabilities as law enforcement officials.”
The organisers said that this training workshop serves as a significant step towards strengthening traffic law enforcement and improving road safety in Dhaka. By promoting knowledge sharing and collaboration among police officials, the workshop aims to foster a safer road environment for all residents.
