Roads have become nemesis for us now. The growing road casualty toll tells that the road safety has been a matter of bygone days. We are, as though, numbed by the shock of every-day death in road crashes. According to a newspaper report published three days back, quoting a data gathered by the Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity, at least 86,690 people were killed and 1,53,257 injured in 62,619 road crashes across the country over the last 11 years. This is actually a ballpark figure which tells that road crashes claim 22 lives everyday on an average. This means, on average 38 were injured on road every day during this period. The samity in a survey in 2024 recorded that 8,583 people were killed and 12,608 were injured in 6,259 crashes.
It is sad that people die in road crashes and before long the tragedies become no more than a statistical memory. So, after every road disaster, the authorities just shrug their collective shoulder and move on unchanged, unrepentant. Since no road tragedy results in quick and effective punishment, no lessons are learnt, the tragedy continues to be replicated.
The organization further said unbearable traffic snarl alone leads to a daily loss of 3.2 million working hours amounting to an annual economic loss of Tk 98,000 crore.
In fact, the actual number of casualties in road crashes could be much higher since many incidents remain unreported. Against this backdrop, the Samity urged political parties contesting the upcoming national election to include concrete plans, to reduce traffic congestion and curb the annual loss of thousands of lives on the roads through the introduction of modern public transport in their manifestos.
We do not think the inclusion of the road mishap problem in the manifestos of political parties will be of any use, because manifestos are rarely materialized. The Road Transport Act, 2018 has failed to address the problem of road crashes snarls, and indiscipline in the sector. And from the frequent accidents, people in their annoyance and exasperation begin to say that there is a jinx on our roads and highways and on our old and worn out buses.
However, it makes us wonder how many more deaths it will take the authorities to wake up to the fact that the country’s entire transport network has virtually become a death trap. The authorities may wash their hands off the whole affair by putting the blame on the faulty vehicles or the unwarranted arrogance and criminal negligence of the drivers. What do the regulatory, monitoring and enforcement authorities do about it? How does it escape the notice of the enforcement authorities when faulty trucks and buses ply in total violation of traffic rules and regulations? That is a big question that agitates the mind of the people.
As remedial measures, we, on our part, propose that roads and highways should be brought under close and constant watch to reduce the road accidents. We also think a more stringent law should be enacted for the purpose immediately. Unskilled drivers, faulty roads, overloading, longevity expired vehicles, reckless and rash driving, flagrant breach of traffic rules, risky overtaking on narrow roads– these principal bottlenecks should be removed without delay. Digital cameras have to be installed on roads and highways to control high speed and punish the errant drivers. There should be road dividers on highways to curb the frequency of overtaking by the drivers. The authorities must take tough measures to ensure road safety without further delay.
